Dethroning God
– adapted by Daniel R. Vess from a lesson presented by David Holder
When we think of Christ’s people as a flock, we picture of Christ as the chief shepherd. When we think of His people as the body, we view of Christ as the head. When we think of Christ’s people as a kingdom, we see of Christ as the king. Kingship occupies a prominent place in Scripture because ultimately God is King and we are to recognize and respect Him as such.
Israel Demands An Earthly King
During the early history of Israel men like Moses and Joshua led God’s people. They were not kings. Later came a long series of judges who save Israel from its enemies. When the last judge, Samuel, was old the people demanded a king instead of his wicked sons as a leader. God had always been the King of Israel. God had warned against having a king back in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Yet the people still clamored for a king like all the other nations about them. This was not a rejection of Samuel, but of God Himself. “And said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day– with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods– so they are doing to you also’” (1 Samuel 8:5-8).
However, God relented and permitted Samuel to anointed Saul as King. The potential was present for Saul to be a good king. A series of mistakes and sins (chs. 13-15) spelled the rejection and subsequent downfall of Saul.
David was anointed by Samuel to replace Saul. He had precisely those virtues Saul was lacking. David, of course, had his share of sins as we know well. Although his overall faithfulness made him a king after God’s own heart (1 Kings 15:1-5).
Prophetically David’s throne became the ideal kingship fulfilled by the promised Messiah. Jesus Christ fulfilled this having been risen from the dead is now sitting at the right hand of God on the throne of David (Acts 2:17f).
Components of God’s Kingship
1) God has dominion over His kingdom. His rule, jurisdiction, authority, or power to govern; it is the sphere, realm, or territory that He controls. God has universal jurisdiction in the sphere of nature (Mt. 5:45; Gen. 7:11,12; Js. 5:17,18; Mt. 6:26; 10:29; Ac. 14:17; Gen. 8:20-22). He even rules over the kingdoms of men, as Daniel said He “removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Dan. 2:21). He rules over the heavens (Ac. 17:24). He rules through Christ over his spiritual kingdom. “translated into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13).
2) God has a throne. His throne or seat of government is the heavens. Satan and all his evil forces cannot remove God from the heavenly throne. He rules today.
3) God has an army. He has armies of angels at His command (Ps. 103:20,21; Rev. 5:11). New Testament Christians are seen as soldiers of Christ ( Eph. 6:10-18). Those who have called themselves Christians but are not fighting the good fight of faith are not soldiers of Christ.
4) God has Laws. As an earthly king would publish his statutes. God publishes His laws in the sacred Scriptures. Earthly kings sometimes make bad laws (Dan. 6). In the Gospel we have “the perfect law of liberty” (Js. 1:25). God’s Laws like those of a monarchy cannot be overturn by the popular will of the people. When the King has cast His vote, He has the clear majority.
5) God has authority. Christ has authority over us because he sustains to us the relationship of the Creator to the creature. He has authority because He has all power in heaven and on earth given by God (Matt. 28:18). Some have submitted to His authority others have rejected it.
Do You Know That The Most High Rules?
Nebuchadnezzer was the great king of the Babylonian Empire. He failed to recognize God’s Kingship (Dan. 4:28-35). This monarch thought too much of himself and his abilities (4:30). He thought that his power and might had produced the greatness of Babylon. He lived with and acted like animals until he looked like an animal (4:33). Men who forget God often live worse than animals and often look worse than animals, because they do not have instincts and natural abilities God as given animals for their own good. Animals don’t deliberately do things to abort their unborn young.
We must show reverence and humility before God. Christians should yield to His righteous laws and be loyal subjects. All who fight against Him will go down in eternal defeat. All sin is treason against the majesty of God. Since we are members of kingdom, since it is not a democracy wherein we have voted Christ into office, we must realize that He has all authority and that it is His to speak and ours to obey. When Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching others to pray He say, “thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 5:10).
Many will talk about Jesus Christ as Lord, but refuse to submit to His authority and obey His Laws. “Lord, Lord” is equivalent to master or ruler. To call someone your master means you have submitted to them. To say they are your ruler means you are willing to obey their rules. If you call yourself a Christian then Christ as King needs to be enthroned in our hearts. Many still say they are Christians but have dethroned Him in order to do their own thing. One day everyone will eventually recognize His kingship (Phil. 2:10).