Father, please send your son back to earth as the King of kings.
Last week we looked at Psalms showing Christ's life, this week we continue the theme looking at what Jesus will be like after this return.
I think many of the laxities of Christianity is due to how people perceive Jesus. He was described as the 'Lamb of God' who gave his life for the world. The Psalms we looked at last week highlight the fact that he gave his life as the perfect example of love. He was submissive even unto death, as pointed out in Philippians 2:8. So perhaps people feel that they can get away with anything.
But there is another side to his character, he is to the ultimate king; a king of kings! ( Revelation 19:16). Revelation 5:5 also describes him as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David”. This idea is also shown in the prophetic psalms, and we'll look at this today.
One of the most pertinent is Psalm 2. Again we'll skip the questions as this week we need to do a bit of reading. As you read Psalm 2 it gives a perfect description of what it will be like when Jesus returns. Not everyone will see him as the perfect solution, especially those already in power. I think it was Queen Victoria who said her greatest wish was to give her crown to Jesus, but how many today will be willing to hand over their crowns to Jesus? It's not going to be an option of saying no, but many of the nations will obviously try. The outcome is to be simple and very, very effective. Verse 9 reads “You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” There's not much in the way of subtlety about that!
The other psalm which follows a similar vein is Psalm 72. Again the themes of judgement and absolute rule are there, but there's also the promise of plenty, prosperity and peace for those who accept his rule.
So the choice is simple; follow Christ and live in peace and prosperity or defy him and be destroyed. These Psalms have been written so we can make the choice beforehand, as a warning and promise. So it's up to us to decide.
No questions this week, but read Psalms 2 and 72.