Psalm 21 is another psalm written by David, and it stands as a song of thanksgiving, joy, and reverent praise for the victory that God granted to the king. This psalm is closely connected to Psalm 20, where David and the people pray for victory before battle. Psalm 21, on the other hand, is the response after that prayer has been answered. It is a song that recognizes that the triumph did not come from human strength, military strategy, or personal ability, but from the mighty hand of God.
Throughout David’s life, we see a repeated pattern: he faces impossible situations, enemies stronger than himself, and circumstances that would naturally lead to defeat. Yet, time and time again, God grants him victory. From his youth, when he faced Goliath with nothing but a sling and faith in the Lord, to his years as king defending Israel from surrounding nations, David knew very well that victory belongs to the Lord.
In the same way, God has also given victories to His people today. Although our battles may not be physical wars fought with swords and shields, they are nonetheless real. We fight spiritual battles, internal struggles, trials of faith, temptations, discouragement, fear, and seasons of suffering. And just as God was faithful to David, He remains faithful to us. Every victory we experience in our Christian walk is a testimony to God’s power and grace.
The psalmist writes:
Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Psalm 21:13
This verse serves as a powerful conclusion to the psalm. David does not ask to be exalted, nor does he exalt the army, the weapons, or the strategy. Instead, he declares that God alone should be exalted, and specifically in His own strength. This is a crucial distinction. David understood that God does not need human assistance to be glorious. God is not exalted because we praise Him; rather, we praise Him because He is already exalted.
As Adam Clarke insightfully commented on this verse, “Be thou exalted, O Jehovah – your creatures cannot exalt you.” In other words, no matter how much we sing, worship, or praise God, we are not adding anything to His glory. God’s greatness is infinite and self-existent. Our praise does not increase His power; it simply acknowledges it.
This understanding protects us from a common misconception: the idea that worship is about making God great. God is already great, whether we worship Him or not. Worship is not about elevating God to a higher position; it is about aligning our hearts with the truth of who He already is. When David says, “Be thou exalted, Lord,” he is expressing recognition, submission, and awe, not attempting to add to God’s majesty.
David continues by saying, “So will we sing and praise thy power.” This statement reveals a deliberate response. Praise is not accidental or optional; it is a conscious decision. David determines that the proper response to God’s power is singing and praise. Worship, in this sense, becomes the natural overflow of gratitude and recognition of God’s mighty works.
Notice that David specifically mentions praising God’s power. Why power? Because power is what made the victory possible. Power is what defeated the enemies. Power is what protected the king and preserved the nation. David knew that without God’s power, he would be nothing more than a fragile human being, vulnerable to defeat and destruction.
Dear brother, dear sister, has the Lord done any powerful work in your life? If you are truly in Christ, the answer is undoubtedly yes. The greatest and most powerful work God has done in you is salvation. The transformation from spiritual death to spiritual life is a miracle of divine power. Scripture tells us that we were dead in our sins, unable to save ourselves, and yet God, by His power, gave us new life in Christ.
But God’s powerful works do not stop at salvation. Day after day, He continues to sustain us. Every breath we take, every heartbeat, every moment of protection, provision, and guidance is evidence of His power at work in our lives. Often, we overlook these daily miracles because they seem ordinary. Yet, nothing about life itself is ordinary apart from God’s sustaining power.
David understood this deeply. That is why his psalms are filled with praise, not only after great victories but also in moments of distress, repentance, and weakness. He knew that God’s power was not limited to battlefields; it was present in forgiveness, restoration, and daily provision.
Psalm 21 also reminds us that victory should always lead us to worship, not to pride. One of the greatest dangers after success is self-exaltation. It is easy to attribute victories to our own intelligence, effort, or perseverance. David, however, consistently redirected glory to God. He recognized that even his ability to lead, fight, and rule was a gift from the Lord.
This psalm challenges us to examine our own responses to victory. When God answers our prayers, delivers us from trials, or grants us success, do we immediately turn to praise? Or do we quietly take credit for ourselves? True worship flows from humility and recognition of God’s sovereignty over every aspect of our lives.
The phrase “we will sing and praise” also highlights the communal aspect of worship. David does not speak only for himself; he includes the people of God. Victories given by God are meant to be celebrated together. Corporate worship strengthens faith, encourages believers, and publicly declares God’s power to the world.
Singing, in particular, has always played a central role in expressing worship. Songs allow truth to dwell richly in our hearts, reminding us of God’s deeds and character. When we sing about God’s power, we are not merely expressing emotion; we are proclaiming theology. We are declaring who God is and what He has done.
Furthermore, praising God for His power builds confidence for future battles. When we remember past victories, our faith is strengthened. David often recalled what God had done before as assurance that God would act again. Praise, therefore, is not only a response to victory but also preparation for what lies ahead.
Let us also remember that God’s power is not always displayed in dramatic ways. Sometimes His power is revealed in sustaining grace, in patience during suffering, in peace amid chaos, and in faithfulness over long seasons of waiting. These, too, are victories worthy of praise.
Psalm 21:13 invites us to adopt David’s attitude: to exalt the Lord for who He is and to respond with singing and praise for what He has done. It calls us to live lives marked by gratitude, humility, and worship.
Let us, therefore, praise God for His power. Let us praise Him for the visible victories and the hidden ones. Let us praise Him for salvation, for daily sustenance, for protection, and for the hope we have in Christ. And may our praise not be limited to words, but expressed through lives that honor and glorify the God who is mighty to save.
Let us praise God for His power, for the majestic things He does in our lives, today and forever.