Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19960331.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Twenty-One: Learning From God's Past Help With Conflicts From Ungodly Opponents
(Psalm 21:1-13)
  1. Introduction
    1. Jesus told His disciples that being hated by the world was to be the expected norm, John 15:18-19.
    2. But more challenging is the truth that every time a believer takes a stand that exposes sin in even another believer, if the one whose sin is exposed doesn't repent, that sinner hates the godly one, John 15:18,22!
    3. Being resisted in conflicts for righteousness' sake takes wisdom to handle, and Psalm 21:1-13 supplies it.
  2. Learning From God's Past Help With Conflicts From Ungodly Opponents, Psalm 21:1-13.
    1. In Psalm 21:1-5, David recalled what God has done to rescue him from conflict with his enemy:
      1. David expressed his appreciation for God's power that gave him victory over enemies, 21:1.
      2. In that battle, God had granted David his desire expressed in prayer, 21:2.
      3. The blessings that flowed from this resolution of conflict are enumerated in Ps. 21:3-5 as follows:
        1. David had been blessed with wholesome blessings he doesn't enumerate, 21:3a.
        2. God had planted a crown of pure gold on his head, a symbol of influence over the territory that once had been a matter of resistance to him from his enemy, Ps. 21:3b.
        3. God had given David an extension of his life in the victory over his life-threatening foe, v. 4.
        4. God had thus supplied personal esteem and honor to David as a result of the victory, 21:5.
    2. based upon this precedent of victory in war over his mortal enemy, David drew some conclusions regarding how God would equip him to overcome in future, similar conflicts in Psalm 21:6-12:
      1. Verses 6, 7 and 11 start with introductory causal conjunctions ke translated "because" to signal the REASONS behind David's conclusions as what to expect in future similar conflicts as follows:
        1. Item One - BECAUSE God had granted David these perpetual blessings by way of his victory over a notable enemy (21:6a), David knew he would not be shaken in future conflicts with enemies, 21:7b.
        2. Item Two - BECAUSE David experienced the great joy of God's fellowship as a result of God's coming to his aid (21:6b), David knew he would not be shaken in future conflicts with enemies, 7b.
        3. Item Three - BECAUSE David trusted in Jahweh as a capable, trustworthy deity (21:7a), David knew he would not be shaken in future conflicts with his enemies, 21:7b.
        4. Item Four - BECAUSE David trusted in Jahweh's loyalty to the Davidic Covenant, His chesed (translated as "mercy" (KJV) or "unfailing love" (NIV)), 7a, David knew he would not be shaken in future conflicts with his enemies, 21:7b.
        5. Item Five - BECAUSE David's enemies plot what is contrary to God's will against David (21:11a), they will not prevail as they counter God's interests in the process, Ps. 21:11b.
      2. Expanding upon these truths, David knew that resolutions to such conflicts would be comprehensive:
        1. Not only would David not be shaken due to these truths, he would personally gain the victory, 8f,12
        2. Not only would he gain the upper hand, but Jahweh would Himself judge these enemies, Ps. 21:9b.
        3. This victory would be lasting, not continually cropping up in the future, Ps. 21:10.
    3. In closing his psalm, David repeated his appreciation for God's power that supplies such solutions, 21:13.
Lesson: Based upon what God had already done to supply David PAST resolutions to conflicts with his enemies, he drew conclusions as to the plan of God's FUTURE help in such conflicts.

Application: If we have been brought safely through a past conflict with an enemy and God has intervened, we should be ENCOURAGED to face such conflicts in the future armed with the following facts: (a) God WANTS to overcome our enemies f or us, 21:6a,7b; (b) He plans to give us JOY in the process once again, 21:6b,7b; (c) He is personally TRUSTWORTHY to address similar conflicts in the future again, 21:7a,7b; (d) He will again be FAITHFUL to His WORD'S PROMISES regarding this issue again if it comes up, 21:7a,7b; (e) He will COUNTER what our enemies plot against us that is contrary to His WILL for our lives and ministries, 21:11a,11b and (f) His POWER will achieve all of these things no matter how strong will be our foes, 21:1,13!