All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. Psalm 22:27-28 (ESV)
Even though a mighty king in his own right, David declares that the true kingship or kingdom belongs to the Lord and that it is the Lord who rules and has power over the nations. The kingship of God is reiterated many times in the scriptures. In Psalms 47:2 God is declared to be the King over all the earth. Psalms 95:3 says that he is the King above all gods. The New Testament scriptures profess God to be the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15), the eternal, immortal and invisible king (1 Timothy 1:17) and the King of the saints (Revelation 15:3 KJV).
With the theme of God’s kingship so prominent in scripture, is it any wonder that when God became flesh in the form of the Son (John 1:1, 14) that he too was called a king?
Upon entering Jerusalem before his crucifixion a multitude of Jesus’ disciples declared him to be king (Luke 19:38). Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was the fulfillment of a prophecy that stated that Israel’s king would come riding on the foal of a donkey (Matthew 21:5; Zechariah 9:9). As his disciples proclaimed him to be King of Israel the Pharisees implored Jesus to silence them. Not denying his kingship Jesus replied, I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. (Luke 19:40 ESV) Jesus also attested to his kingship when he stood before Pontus Pilate. He answered Pilates’s inquiry by saying, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world. (John 18:36 ESV) Jesus made it clear that his kingship was not political in nature and was not given to him by man (John 6:15).
Many in the Jewish nation during the time of Jesus did not want him to be their king whether political or spiritual (John 19:15, 21). Jesus told a parable (referring to himself) about a nobleman who went to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom. Once he had departed his citizens sent a delegation after him declaring, “We do not want this man to reign over us!” Upon receiving the kingdom the nobleman returned to settle his accounts with the citizens to whom he had entrusted his riches. Once the accounts were settled he said, But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me. (Luke 19:11-27 ESV)
In the Revelation Jesus, referred to as the Lamb, is affirmed as the King of kings (Revelation 17:14). John wrote, Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16 ESV)
David concluded in Psalm 22:27 that because the Lord is king of the nations that all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to him and reverently worship before him. The apostle Paul proclaims that the Lord spoken of by David is in fact Jesus. Paul wrote, Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)
Is Jesus your king? Do you want him to reign over you?
Scriptures for meditation:
John 1:49
Revelation 11:15