“The LORD is king forever and ever . . . ” Psalm 10:16
Jesus Christ is no despotic claimant of divine right, but he is really and truly the Lord’s anointed! “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19). God has given to him all power and all authority. As the Son of man, he is now head over all things to his church, and he reigns over heaven, and earth, and hell, with the keys of life and death at his girdle.
Certain princes have delighted to call themselves kings by the popular will, and certainly our Lord Jesus Christ is such in his church. If it could be put to the vote whether he should be King in the church, every believing heart would crown him. O that we could crown him more gloriously than we do! We would count no expense to be wasted that could glorify Christ. Suffering would be pleasure, and loss would be gain, if thereby we could surround his brow with brighter crowns and make him more glorious in the eyes of men and angels.
Yes, he shall reign. Long live the King! All hail to you, King Jesus! Go forth, you who love your Lord, bow at his feet, strew his way with the lilies of your love, and the roses of your gratitude: “Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.” Moreover, our Lord Jesus is King in Zion by right of conquest: he has taken and carried by storm the hearts of his people, and he has slain their enemies who held them in cruel bondage. In the Red Sea of his own blood, our Redeemer has drowned the Pharaoh of our sins.
Shall he not be King? He has delivered us from the iron yoke and heavy curse of the law. Shall not the Liberator be crowned? We are his portion. Who shall snatch his conquest from his hand? All hail, King Jesus! we gladly own your gentle sway! Rule in our hearts forever, the lovely Prince of Peace.
Adapted from Morning and Evening.
