Wednesday, November 14, 2012

What Do Kings Need?

Psalm 21:1-7

Kings have everything. If you were a King, what would you rejoice in the most? In what did David rejoice? Psalm 21 tells us what it means to be a king - not for a day but for a lifetime.

We are kings because we are God's children. Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests because He love us and washed away our sins in His blood. Today, God wants us to reign in life. We are on the throne with the Lord Jesus. "The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord" (v. 1). David is rejoicing in the strength that God gave him - strength to walk and strength to war; strength to build and strength to battle, strength to carry the burdens of life. Are you rejoicing today as God's king because He gives you strength?

David continues, "And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!" He rejoices in God's salvation. We need to do the same. One day Jesus told His disciples, "Don't rejoice because the demons are subject to you. Rejoice because your names are written down in heaven" (see Luke 10:20).

David also rejoices in satisfaction. "You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness" (vv. 2-3). If we look back, we will find goodness and mercy following us, and if we look ahead, God is meeting us with His goodness (v. 3). Don't be afraid of today, and don't be afraid of the future. God will meet you with His goodness.

In verse 7 David rejoices in stability: "For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved." I like these blessings we can rejoice in - God's strength, salvation, satisfaction, and stability. All of this is for God's glory. "His glory is great in Your salvation" (v. 5).

Many Christians fail to see themselves as kings. But God wants us to reign in life and has provided several blessings that enable us to live as kings. Are you enjoying the blessings of kingship? If not, claim His blessings and start living a life of victory.

~Warren W. Weirsbe~

2 comments:

  1. Rev. 1:5-6 does refer to Christ loving us and freeing us from our sins by his blood, and making us a kingdom, priests to his God. This is repeated somewhat in Rev. 5:9-10, where the Lamb that was slain and whose blood ransomed men for God has made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.

    These references do say Christ's people are a kingdom, and priests to God; they do not say these "priests" are kings. They are rather the kingdom of the one sitting on the throne (in heaven, namely, God, as in 4:2), and of the Lion of Judah, who is the Lamb standing in the midst of the throne (Rev. 5:5-6). There are other thrones around the one throne in heaven, and Jesus promises churches that if they "conquer" they will sit with him on his throne (3:21). So the ruling in heaven is a future reality if we first "conquer" on earth; and the phrase in 5:10 (they will reign on earth) is also about the future (the new heavens and new earth of Rev. 21-22).

    Yet most of the seven churches Jesus addresses are not conquering and need to repent. The church addressed in 3:21, Laodicea, thinks they are blessed with wealth and health, but are actually not. Jesus is knocking on their door, wanting in. Only two churches are "conquering," and they are poor, powerless, and in tribulation from local enemies (2:9; 3:9). If these two continue their patient endurance and remain faithful unto death, and thus conquer, Christ says he will give them the crown of life (2:10; 3:10-12).

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    1. Revelation 1:6 - To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priest to His God and Father, to Him be glory and domination forever and ever. Amen

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