Our Creator and King

November 14, 2010

Lesson: Psalm 24

Key Verse: Psalm 24:10

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Introduction

Our faith rests upon the truth of who God is. We testify to the truth of these words of Scripture: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hast formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God” (Psa. 90:2)

At the beginning of the War of the States, Stonewall Jackson was given a commission of Colonel of the Virginia forces and ordered to take command at Harper’s Ferry. Thomas Jackson wrote to his wife, “I expect to leave here about half-past two P.M. today, for Harper’s Ferry. I am thankful to say that an ever-kind Providence who causes ‘all things to work together for good to them that love him,’ has given me the post which I prefer above all others, and has given me an independent command. To His name be all the praise. You must not expect to hear from me very often, as I expect to have more work than I have ever had, in the same length of time, before; but don’t be concerned about me, as an ever-kind Heavenly Father will give all needful aid.” This quote from Jackson’s biography by Robert Dabney shows that the Christian can understand and see in his own life the providential work of our Lord. For, by Scripture, we come to the assurance that our Lord is working all things together for our good and to his glory.

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Christ our King

The Son, who rules all nations and its inhabitants, claims such authority or kingship on the grounds that all things belong to him by virtue of the fact that he is the Creator; “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). The Son, who is King and Head of the Church, calls his own to enter into his Kingdom; “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13–14). The Son is the King of Glory, the only one who has entered in the holy of holies, into heaven itself, that we might follow him; “but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:12).

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The King of Nations

Christ is also the Lord over all nations, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods” (Psa. 24:1–2). The Lord, the “I AM” Almighty Triune God, Sovereign and Majestic, is the owner of the earth. All of the contents thereof are the Lord’s. The world, the globe and all it inhabitants, belongs to the Lord. “And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness” (Ps. 9:8). God governs the world. Therefore, his Creation is called upon to rejoice, “Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth; with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity” (Psa. 98:8–9). The Lord has complete authority to rule over his Creation. “The Psalmist here confirms the truth, that men are rightfully under the authority and power of God, so that in all places and countries they ought to acknowledge him as King. And he confirms it from the very order manifested in the creation; for the wonderful providence of God is clearly reflected in the whole face of the earth” (John Calvin).

The Lord “has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” God created the heaven and the earth. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). The Lord established his creation where man or chance could not. We have been given an earth filled with the fullness of God’s gifts. There is nothing wanting in his Creation: “Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty … He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; …by them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation which sing among the branches. …

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; that he may bring forth food out of the earth” (Psalm 104).

The Creator, each and every day, reveals his Lordship over the globe and all its inhabitants, over all authorities, whether in the home, business, or governments. “Let us remember,” writes Calvin, “whenever each of us contemplates his own nature, that there is one God who so governs all natures that he would have us look unto him, direct our faith to him, and worship and call upon him. For nothing is more preposterous than to enjoy the very remarkable gifts that attest the divine nature within us, yet to overlook the Author who gives them to us at our asking.”

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The Kingdom of the Lord

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face O Jacob. Selah” (Psa. 24:3–6). Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, his mount Zion, his holy place? He who has clean hands, innocent, free from guilt. Christ paid the ransom price, took our guilt upon himself and satisfied the justice of God. Those who are adopted of God are enabled to enter His Zion, his Household, his Kingdom of Righteousness. Scripture teaches, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:22–23). Therefore, “he who occupies a place in the church is more related to him. All those, therefore, whom God receives into his flock he calls to holiness; and lays them under obligations to follow it by his adoption” (John Calvin). David Dickson gives us further understanding, “God has chosen a church out of all the earth, to be his peculiar people, with whom he many converse, and to whom he may give privilege of communion forever with himself; he hath his own holy and high hill, he hath his own holy place, to wit, a holy universal church, represented by the hill of Zion.”

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The King of Glory

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory” (Psa. 24:7–10). Christ is anointed “to be our eternal King, who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in (the enjoyment of) that salvation, He has purchased for us” (Heidelberg Catechism).

David saw, as in a mirror, the glory of the eternal Kingdom, of whom Christ is the King. Scripture teaches, “For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest forever; here will I dwell; for I have desired it” (Psa. 132:13–14). The King of Glory has first entered into his Mount Zion. He entered in triumphantly! The great doors of impregnable curtains were torn apart. Majestic doors were put in its place, Everlasting Doors, permanent and divinely established. The King of Glory enters and tabernacles with his people for whom he died.

The angel of the Lord spoke to Mary, “and behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JOSHUA (Jesus). He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31–33). The Son of God is our Lord, strong and mighty. For He alone “is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Therefore, come to Christ your Savior and King. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Ps. 100:4). David Dickson gives this invitation: “We have need again and again to hear the offer of Christ’s grace, and to be wakened up to observe Christ and his glory; need to be exhorted again and again to open our hearts wide to him” Lift up your heads, ye gates.

For Discussion: What does it mean for Christ to be both King of the Church and of the nations?

Let us continue to bless our Creator and Lord: Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion” (Psalm 134).

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.