The Joy of Glory

Psalm 72 (click here)
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!

May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!

For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!. (Psalm 72:1, 8, 12-13, and 17-19)

Reflection
What is the point of a king?

From all the stories I heard as a kid (both fictional and historical) I assumed that a king ultimately existed for himself. It seemed as if all kingly figures were obsessed with their own power, wealth, and border expansion.

Yet…the picture painted of a king to rule over God’s people is quite different. It is actually the opposite of all I have seen in history and fantasy.

In God’s plan, a king does not exist to be selfish, but selfless. A king’s power is meant to empower others…his wealth is to enrich others…and his dominion is not for domination, but for protection and provision.

A true king is not all about being served, but all about serving.

For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

O that such a king would have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!

All people, all nations would truly be blessed in him!

The good news of the Gospel is that there is such a king! He is the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. His name is Jesus and He reigns now, even though much of his kingdom is currently unseen and unrecognized by this world. It will not always be so. He will return and his kingdom will come in full!

And this king Jesus… he is a true king. He comes not to be served, but to serve! In his first coming he did this by giving his life as a ransom for many and when he comes again we are told, “…he will dress himself for service and have [his followers] recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” (Luke 12:37)

How unbelievable is this?

Here is a king who uses his power to empower you! All his wealth to enrich you! All his dominion to protect and provide for you eternally!

Even if we lose all this world has to offer, he will empower us through such loss, and we won’t lose an ounce of his eternal wealth and worth!

Even if we lose our very lives, he will protect and provide the grace for us to walk all the way through death and into glory!

Blessed be this king’s glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.