Sept 19 - Psalm 21:5

Your victory brings

[the king] great honor.

Psalm 21:5

Psalm 21 is a victory song. “³ Success and prosperity” have come to the land. Though “⁸ enemies” once threatened, the king’s life has been “⁴ preserve[d].” Now “³ a crown of finest gold [rests safely] on his head,” and “¹ shouts [of] joy” echo across the kingdom. Indeed, “¹ the king rejoices.”

As the history books are written, who always gets credit for the victories? Kings and generals and mighty warriors.

But the scriptures remind us who really ought to get the credit: “¹ O Lord … ⁵ Your victory brings [the king] great honor.”

Kings like to claim credit. So do most of us. We’re prideful. We want to be self-sufficient. But if life is a game of chess, then God is the chessmaster and we’re just knights and pawns and rooks. In fact, even if we were to rise as tall as a king on this chessboard called earth, true victory would still only come from God’s omnipotent hand.

But a strange thing happens when we humble ourselves – like the king in this Psalm – and admit that we’re little more than pawns. God lifts us up. He “⁶ endow[s us] with eternal blessings.” He “⁶ give[s us] the joy of being in [his] presence.”

When the King of Heaven makes us his children, we become princes and princesses. And that’s not a position of pride; that’s a gift from relationship.

In Christ’s Love,

a prince when I realize I’m a pawn,

a pawn when I think I’m a prince