Thanks For Yesterday Today and Tomorrow

Is Psalm 20 was sung before the war, Psalm 21 is the song after the war. And the first section reminds us of the importance of thanking God for victory in the past!

Psalm 21:1–2 (ESV) O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! 2 You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

How quick and often we pray for things we need in the future or present. But we easily forget to reflect on the goodness of God in the past. If we stop and think, we can surely find plenty of blessings to thank the Lord for. His goodness and mercy are forever showered upon us. 

The first 7 verses rejoice in the Lord. The Lord blesses the king, empowers the king, and rejoices the king. The presence of the Lord is the source of the king's joy. 

Can you take a moment now to think and recount the wonderful things God has done for you? I know personally there are many for me. My Lord has given me health, family, plenty of material blessings that I don't deserve. My Lord has been with me in every step of my life. When I have been at my worst, my Lord did not abandon me. When I did not deserve His grace, He gave it to me. His "steadfast love" is my trust. 

The wonderful thing about counting your blessings is that it immediately changes your attitude.

The Psalmist continues with the last half of the Psalm rejoicing not in what the Lord has done but what the Lord will finish. 

Psalm 21:8–10 (ESV) Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. 9 You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. 10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man.

Our joy can not only be rooted in what God has done but what God will finish. He will deliver for good and He will bring the unrighteous to justice. Perfect justice. 

Worship is an expectation moment. We fully believe and expect God to do good for us and through us. He is with His people. He is the one who fights for us. He is the Lord our strength and so we must never give up to fear or discouragement. God is for us, who can be against us!

Amen.

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