God Our King

The absolute sovereignty of a king is a foreign concept to many today.  Having grown up and lived in democratic countries, being a citizen affords me particular rights.  One of those rights (and privileges) is to participate in elections through voting.  Every person who votes has the same power to elect representatives and pass legislation.  Though my contribution is one vote among many, our system of government allows the voice of the people to be heard.

I have no idea how different life would be if I lived in a nation ruled by a king.  I am not talking about celebrity royals or figureheads, but I imagine life would be very different if I was the legal subject of a monarch whose word was law, whose retribution upon his enemies was swift and severe, and who wielded the power of life and death over his people.  Kings will not suffer any to oppose them.  Forget rubber bullets, tear gas, or being kept overnight in jail:  to protest or even question a king would mean certain death.  King Solomon knew what he was saying by experience when he wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:2-4:  "I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. ³ Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him. ⁴ Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"  People were urged to be careful in the presence of the king, lest they offend him.  A king is obligated to do whatever pleases him, and who can speak against or even question him?  Life and death is in the power of a king's tongue.  As a king, absolute power is his right.

If we should fear and obey kings whom God has placed in authority, how much more should we fear and reverence the King of kings?  Paul said something similar to Solomon in Romans 9:20-24:  "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" ²¹ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honour and another for dishonour? ²² What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"  Though it is foolish to charge God with wrong and question his righteous judgments, people still do.  God is answerable to no man, for He is our Creator and King.  No one has a legal right to oppose Him.  Even as a potter can make whatever he wants with clay, God has the divine right to do exactly as He pleases with His things.  And since we born-again Christians are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ, we are doubly His.  He has glorious plans we cannot conceive of, and instead of questioning Him in doubt we are to trust and obey.

The grace of God is more compelling than any "rights" we claim for ourselves.  Earthly kings are not longsuffering, but God is.  He suffers long with fools and offers them forgiveness and everlasting life if they will repent of their sin and trust in Jesus.  Not one of us has the right to be heard by God, but God has freely given us the right to become His beloved children through the Gospel.  We are given privileged access to God by the blood of Christ, and we are urged to act on this in Hebrews 4:16:  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  God's throne is founded on righteousness, grace, justice and love.  He is not soft, caving into the demands of anyone.  Yet unlike many in authority, God actually listens to each of his loyal subjects.  We have a voice heard in heaven which can accomplish more than a million votes in an election.  We don't deserve this privilege, but God delights to grant this to all who delight in Him.  Let us thank God and show our appreciation by boldly approaching Him in prayer, for He is our worthy King.