Who gets credit for their achievements? (Reflections on Psalm 21)
Psalm 21 begins with David saying to God, “O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give him!” (Psalm 21:1a).
David writes about joy often in the psalms. Here he is expressing great joy because God has done wonderful things for him. God’s power saved David from his enemies and God’s promise that the unknown shepherd of Bethlehem would become king of Israel was fulfilled.
His success is well documented in 2 Samuel. And now we’re reading David’s evaluation of those accomplishments: God gets all the credit. Notice how God is the subject of sentence after sentence.
You have granted him his heart’s desire (v. 2a)
You received it with rich blessings (v. 3a)
You put a crown of pure gold on his head (v. 3b)
You gave him a long life (v. 4)
You have given him splendor and majesty (v. 5b)
When you think of your own achievements, who gets the credit? Certainly our culture is obsessed with rewarding ourselves. Our educational system is based on regular and even daily recognition of success. Oh how we love to praise our children for their academic pursuits! Extracurricular activities also provide a plethora of opportunities for the honor, be it athletics, music, and even non-competitive activities. The list goes on and on.
Certainly, we must encourage our young people to strive for excellence. And there must be a place to honor one another. Along the way, however, let’s not forget to teach our children how to recognize the role that God plays in our accomplishments.
David provides a wonderful example for us to follow, starting with the most basic acknowledgment: “the king rejoices in your strength(Psalm 21:1). As we begin each day, let’s keep this important truth in mind: Every breath and step is a direct result of God’s power working in me.
How easy it is to forget this! That’s why I like the English Standard Version translation of Psalm 21:1a – “in your strength the king rejoices.” It’s the same six words, but note how the order is different from the NIV. The power of God is front and center. The power of God is first and foremost.
Acknowledging God as the source of our strength is a simple thing, but it is often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of life in the 21st century. I encourage you to take time each day to thank God for allowing us to do even the most mundane tasks.
Cultivate the habit of offering this prayer of thanksgiving throughout the day: “Lord, thank you for giving me the strength to do this today. In your strength I rejoice.”