READ:
Psalm 21:13
13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
EXHORTATION:
David spoke these words at the end of a psalm in which he delineated the struggles he had against the enemies of the LORD. Earlier, he spoke of men who acted wickedly against God. He said, “For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform” (v. 11). He was thankful that the wicked were not allowed to carry out all their schemes fully. He also expressed his expectation that the LORD would defeat the enemies and cause them to retreat: “Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them” (v. 12). So he expressed his desire to have the LORD’s strength be exalted over all His foes.
The servants of the LORD do not seek their own exaltation, for their ultimate desire is that the LORD and His power be exalted above all else. Our strength is but little. Our hearts are often afraid; our hands tremble for fear. When we are so incapacitated by our infirmities and debilitated by our fear, let us trust our Almighty God for our deliverance. Let us put our trust in the LORD, and pray that His mighty arm would prevail against all the wicked devices of men that are wrought against the Lord’s work.
When we feel weakest and are in despair, as when temptations and troubles of our enemies abound, let us like David cry out to the LORD that He would exalt Himself by delivering us by His mighty arm. Let us beseech the LORD to take the situation in His own powerful hands and work out His righteous plans for His own glory.
Let us manifest godly boldness by trusting in the LORD’s glorious power and wisdom. Let us seek His help in our adversities. Let us encourage ourselves by trusting in the LORD’s great power, just as David did. Let us press on. By believing in His strength, let us rise above our feelings of despair and hopelessness.
Like David, let us look forward to sing and praise His power. Let us praise Him for every help and deliverance we receive from Him. The more we feel our inability and weakness, the more we should resolve to glorify Him with our songs for the help and triumph He bestows upon us. When the LORD magnifies Himself, we should exalt Him with our praises.