Announcements went out. The news was everywhere. A new king would be crowned and the world was invited to pay homage and celebrate with the chosen one.
He would rule with strength, fairness, and love; grace would wrap him like a mane. All who loved righteousness gathered with one heart to rejoice. A king of the sunlight, of the day.
But not everyone was ready to crown this newcomer.
A faction lurked in the dark. Ones who thought they were better rulers, ones who would not submit, heads who would not bow. Murder was a coveted desire and they had the numbers to trample the king. Or so they thought.
But the rightful ruler’s throne was established and could not clawed down. His purpose would stand. And the rulers of darkness could only conspire in vain, even with blood on their hands, before falling away.
Thus, Lion King: The Musical, hit Broadway in New York City to rave reviews.
Furry Simba was born the rightful king but had to overcome might opposition to rule. King David and Jesus both knew what it was like to be the rightful king, chosen and appointed by God, yet rejected by many of their subjects.
Psalm 2 is a record, if you will, of David’s rejection as king by certain countryman. Although the psalm’s author is unnamed, in Acts Paul credits David as the author. But this psalm is also a messianic prophecy fulfilled, in part, by Jesus.
(I say “in part” because while Jesus rules His established kingdom, the church, He is still waiting for the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, when God judges the world in righteousness and creates a new heaven and a new earth.)
David was a shepherd boy who returned to tending animals on the day he was anointed as king of Israel. For many years, he skirted death and a disgruntled father-in-law before he sat down on his throne. Uncountable are the number of people who conspired to kill the king rather than obey the Lord by accepting God’s chosen ruler.
And yet, God’s purpose was established.
Jesus was born the king of kings. He was the lamb slain before the foundations of the world. The exulting voices of joyful welcomers waving palm leaves were drowned out by cries of “Crucify Him!” only one week later.
Hatred slithered to its bitter end by killing the king of the universe. And three days later, God destroyed sin’s power – death – by bringing our king back to life. Leaders who should have been first in line to worship Jesus led the cries of rejection.
And yet, God’s purpose was established.
“God’s anointed is appointed, and shall not be disappointed”, preached Charles Spurgeon.
Do you still watch the news?
I had to turn down its voice in my life because it led to a skewed perception that chaos triumphs, evil usurps good, and the good seem hard to find these days. Everywhere we look our eyes land on trouble. Our culture rejects Christ at every level. From Instagram feeds to news networks, we see that…
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, [saying], 3
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
Only an enemy would use the words “bonds” and “cords” to describe submission to the Lord’s anointed. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
These kings and rulers rebuff any authority higher than their own. Kings and rulers can move armies. Start wars. Enforce contrary laws. They believe they can break God’s bonds and throw away the pieces and take back their own power. They can hurt us.
We flip from the news channel to something more benign, like crocodile attacks, to soothe our ruffled nerves.
Everywhere, kings and rulers seem to break their bonds and deny God’s sovereignty. We feel it in our society and we feel it in our own lives.
We feel our enemy breaking against us in ranks.
We hear the clanging, we tremble at the trumpets of attack, we huddle against the hooves of horses beating toward us.
Will we believe God’s purpose for our lives will stand?
Or do we believe God when He calls His enemy’s efforts “vain”?
Armies in uproar make a lot of noise. Noise is frightening, even overwhelming.
But if we could see the source of noise, we wouldn’t see armies clashing, shields smashing, swords flashing, but an empty battlefield covered with the slain. God’s already won the battle; we’re hearing the faded echo of decided victory, like the last peals of thunderclouds retreating to the horizon.
Where storms once crashed, a rainbow shines, and a king is crowned.
“I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me, ‘You [are] My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give [You] The nations [for] Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth [for] Your possession.
Does the Lord of heaven’s armies seem anxious about victory in these verses?
The last verse of Psalm 2 summarizes the wise attitude of the reader: Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
God’s purpose is established. We call the uproar the “battle between good and evil” but that’s a misnomer: there is no battle, only the echoes of a battlefield long ago conquered.
God’s purpose for your life is and will be established.
We are called only to submit our hearts to Christ, who died to save such a precious thing as you. He’s asking for our trust. The battle has been won but we must believe it and give our loyalty to the one true king, the only one who is able to save us from sin and death.
God’s purpose to exalt His Son will always win out.
His purpose for you is established.
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
My mother, sister, and I settled into juvenile-sized theater seats for the opening scene of Lion King: The Musical for the opening scene: the presentation of newborn Simba, rightful heir and future king of Pride Rock.
Triumphal music built to a crescendo. The tension and expectation filled the room like a cloud. My eyes, indeed every eye in the theater, fixed on Pride Rock, so imagine my surprise when I turned to the aisle as the ears and trunk of an elephant passed by on its journey toward the stage. I caught myself: the elephant was a clever fabrication, “walked” up the aisle by actors moving poles to shift the beast forward.
Throughout the theater, giraffes, elephants, zebra and many of Africa’s most famous animals swayed toward “Pride Rock.” In using the aisles as part of the stage, we in the audience were swept up in the sheer scale, the majesty, the awesome and palpable energy of welcoming a new king.
I can still feel the thrill of that opening scene. I’m sure the magnificently choreographed opening was one reason the musical received rave reviews. It was profoundly moving.
But I can only imagine the day when we believers worship our king, Jesus, together. I don’t have the words, so I won’t try. But remember: the total reign of Jesus is an established promise. The battle has already been won, and God’s purpose established.
Long live the King.