“When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.”” Isaiah 16:4b-5 ESV
Reflection: how do you envision the rule of King Jesus will be?
In 2022, Charles III was coronated as king over the United Kingdom. Whatever you think of a monarchy versus other forms of rule and government, he is the current king of the UK. There are still a number of monarchies across the world, although this form of rule has been replaced by more democratic rule. An elected leader by the people, as opposed to an appointed leader, often by bloodline. King Charles III is taking the reign over a kingdom that is in a bit of a disarray, if you look at many factors like culture, the identity of the citizens, the economy, etc. And perhaps the worst factor is the dwindling freedoms for the people, including a justice system that doesn’t seem just when some of their own citizens are being targeted and oppressed. This once great kingdom seems to have lost its way.
Obviously, history repeats itself. We have seen this throughout history. Great kingdoms and nations rise and fall, often from similar causes. We read from Isaiah “We have heard of the pride of Moab— how proud he is!— of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right.” Isaiah 16:6 ESV. The pride, the arrogance of man, where we know from scripture that “Pride goes before the destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” Proverbs 16:18 ESV.. Do we see this today? Oh yes, all over the world, and perhaps especially in some of the Western European countries who have turned away from God relying on their own intellect. The very countries which built much of our industrial world are now struggling. In fact, this very week, a lot of the world leaders are gathering to discuss the future. Most likely, that future they are considering does not include the King of kings.
We are again given an image through Isaiah, of this future king the Israelites were waiting for. Isaiah wrote “a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.”” Isaiah 16:5 ESV. A throne in steadfast love? In goodness? This is clearly not your typical ruler, because only God is good. Secondly, we see this also to be a faithful, spiritual king, “in the tent of David”, meaning the meeting tent, the temple of the Lord, and in the lineage of David. And finally, it will be a just and righteous king, something we can understand is a different kind of king seeing all the injustice in the world. So when will this king finally take his throne? We see in the previous verse,
“When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,” Isaiah 16:4b.
The Lord promises here that the oppressor, which really is the devil and all his servants, as they are only focused on destroying what God created, in any way they can. The King of kings compared Himself to the enemy, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 ESV. The kings, lords and rulers of the world will some day have to bow down to the only King of kings, Jesus Christ, as Paul states “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 ESV And Jesus has promised “Surely, I am coming soon” Revelation 22:20b ESV, Are we expecting, waiting for the King of kings to come, to establish His rightful throne?
We say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20c ESV