Kings Shall Shut Their Mouths At Him


The Greatest King

The Lord Jesus came as a servant. He poured out His soul even unto death. He sprinkled many nations. Therefore He has been exalted and extolled. He has been given a name which is above every name. His name is King OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. The kings shall shut their mouths at Him, for they shall be told about and consider that which they had not seen nor heard. The isles shall wait for His Law.

The Place for Nationhood

God established the nation of Israel - with it's Law and blessings - as the platform on which to reveal His Son. The Gospel was first announced to Israel while Israel was in nationhood. Nothing that Jesus ever said was intended to take away from the greatness of Israel's nationhood. Jesus Christ is all about blessing nations. In Him all families of the earth shall be blessed!

The Kingdom was taken away from the Jewish leadership and given to another nation. That other nation is the church. Jesus is building His church. The Gentiles are included in the church. The New Covenant is now central to the new nation - to the church - just as the Old Covenant was once central to Israel. The preaching of the Gospel through His apostles now becomes foundational to the church, along with the prophets.

Wherever the Gospel is received, it has an influence on civil government, national health, and on the prosperity of the economy. Just as the Old Covenant was once central to Israel's nationhood, so the Cross, through the preaching of the Gospel, now becomes foundational to civil structure.

That influence is made through prayer, through apostleship, through the preaching of the Gospel.

Since good government, a strong economy, a powerful military and a healthy way of life in Israel were all meant to be the platform on which the Gospel was to be first introduced, it follows that these things can also be the product of the Gospel wherever it is received. These things are also desirable so that the Gospel can flourish - that's why Paul exhorted that first of all men pray everywhere, for Kings and for all who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness.

Therefore nationhood, good government, national health and economic prosperity are not hidden from God's interest. He delights in these things!


The Paramount Place for Preaching

But keep in mind that these things come about only through the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore servanthood in the Gospel, to Jesus Christ, remains the all-important function.

In his youth, Job was like a king amongst the army. Young men fled from him. The nobles kept silence, placing their hands over their mouths. But wherefore did he receive such honour? Because he defended the cause of the fatherless. The heart of the widow sang for joy because of him.

Why was Jesus exalted? Because He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

Paul laboured abundantly in the Gospel. Subsequently his writings have virtually founded nations.

John Wesley travelled on horseback, leaving behing the clothes on his back, two silver spoons, and the Methodist church.

Men like William Tyndale and George Washington were willing to die for their cause. They faithfully responded to the call of the hour. The result was the laying of a good foundation for generations to come.

The source of all societal blessing, dignity and honour, is covenant - the New Covenant in His blood. Therefore civil pomp and ceremony is not unimportant, but preaching the Gospel is paramount and eternal importance and honour.

The prophets said that Israel would appoint themselves one head - and this is not condemned. Whether the chief administrator is called President or King doesn't matter - the Book of Acts calls the Roman administrators kings. And Paul told the believers to honour, obey and pay them, despite their imperfections. Jesus also said not to give what is their's, and not to offend them.

Government and nationhood as a goal, has no glory except for being a reflection of His Kingdom and glory - which has been given us through the Gospel. There is no Crown like His crown; no jewels like His jewels; no ceremony like His ceremony; no glory without His glory; no life without His life.

Civil government provides the ground on which the Gospel can be preached. Good government is fertile ground for the Gospel to germinate and flourish in. The Gospel again works to produces that type of society.

Therefore we place great honour upon society - as the civil officers are God's ministers. And as for me, I'm called to preach the Gospel.