Encouragement

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Well today has been an intriguing day. I’m a Brit who, despite living near London, did not venture into the city to experience the day’s festivities. Nonetheless I was glued to my T.V screen this morning overwhelmed by the vibrancy, colour, pomp and majesty of the royal wedding. And I was surprised by the enthusiasm with which the occasion was received. The general sense is that the popularity for the monarchy in the UK is declining, but there was no such evidence of that today. The whole occasion seemed to unite people and inspire a celebratory and party-like atmosphere, and a sense that everything is alright after all.

And I was reminded of the fact that the ancient Israelites celebrated their monarchy over two and a half thousand years ago with similar celebratory style. Royal occasions in ancient Israel were joyful occasions for the whole nation. And despite the Bible detailing numerous useless Kings, the nation always looked forward to and hoped for a King who would rule the nation with justice, righteousness and might, championing the cause of the poor and oppressed and promoting peace.

It’s everywhere in the Old Testament. A passage which comes most clearly to mind is Psalm 45 which clearly reflects a joyful royal wedding occasion. The exalted words of the King in this and many others Psalms is, at times, quite startling. Take the opening of Psalm 72 for instance:

‘Endow the King with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness
He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice’.

In the Old Testament there are numerous supplications for God to protect the royal monarch, much like there are today (‘God save the Queen...’). And the ancient Israelites were always praying for a monarch who would act justly, mightily and peaceably. Take the prophecy of Isaiah 9 for instance:

‘For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’

Who was this child? Perhaps it might have been Hezekiah. Isaiah, of course, prophesied during the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah. Whoever it was he did not quite fulfil the ideal the Israelites were looking for (although Hezekiah was, by all accounts, a good King). So it is both a wonderful surprise, and at the same time no surprise at all that this prophecy is attached to Jesus. A wonderful surprise because, of course, Jesus was not a royal. He was not a political King. But he did preach of a perfect Kingdom. And he was, so it is believed, enthroned on high after his death and resurrection. His Kingdom is the Kingdom the ancient Israelites desired-a Kingdom in which God himself reigns as King administering perfect justice, goodness and righteousness.

Today has been a joyful day. It is but a foretaste of the celebrations to be enjoyed when the God, who in Christ sowed the seed of His great Kingdom, fully inaugurates that Kingdom and reigns with full Sovereignty and might on earth as He does in heaven.

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