The theme of victory runs through Psalms 20 and 21. Here the focus is on the specific victory he gives his anointed one, the king.

Anointment in the Bible was marked by the pouring of oil on someone’s head.  It was a symbolic representation that demonstrated God’s special appointment of a person to act on behalf of his people.  Priests were anointed.  Kings were anointed.  Each role represented a ministry of leadership within the community. Through the anointed one, God’s blessing came to his people.

So, when the Lord gives victory to his anointed, he brings untold security to his people.

The New Testament taps into the language of victory at various points to describe the ministry of Christ.  Jesus speaks of overcoming the world to explain his perfect faithfulness to his heavenly father (John 16:33).  From the outset of his ministry, this faithfulness was on display. The Spirit’s descent on him at his baptism is an anointing like no other. But this baptism is immediately followed by Satan’s temptation.  This structure in the story highlights the nature of the battle Christ was engaged with for us.  Beyond the geopolitical tensions which plague this world is a spiritual war that threatens to make casualties of our souls.  The lures of Satan expose our weakness, but Christ refused to bow to those deceptions. He overcame the world, the flesh and the devil.

But having lived a perfect life, he also died a perfect death, the value of which God authorised by raising him from the dead.  In this, death is swallowed up in victory, and that victory God grants to us.  Christ’s victory becomes ours.  Our confidence is sure in the fidelity of his faithful power.