The Lord is King

January 5, 2025 Background Scripture: Psalm 9, 10 Lesson Passage: Psalm 10:12 — 18 This is a great lesson to begin the New Year. The two psalms in the Background Scripture complement each other. They both proclaim God's justice that always prevails in the end. The Background Scripture reminds us of the purpose and importance of government. Of extreme importance is the government's protection of and provision for the less fortunate. Eveny society over the course of time that I have been privileged to read about had a population of people who were less fortunate than most in that society. Some were working poor and others were in abject poverty with no means to support themselves. The morals and ethics of that society should be judged by how provisions were made available for the less fortunate. A chief concern of the less fortunate is their physical protection from human predators who abuse and prey on them. Provision and protection were responsibilities of the government they lived under. Of course, the greatest threat was when the government became the predator. There are no political powers above the government of that land. An abusive government seems all-powerful and unstoppable. Sadly, human history records that abusive governmental authorities often garner the largest group of followers and supporters. At the height of their reign, their pride is their glory. Their arrogance is their self-assurance. They bask in their inflated egos. The less fortunate of the land are at their mercy and often suffer because of it. This can be viewed from different perspectives within different forms of governance. In democracies and democratic republics, time is seen as being on the side of the less fortunate. Wicked leaders can be removed by the vote of the people, eventually. Kingdoms are different in that they are ruled by monarchs who inherit the throne from their forefathers. These leaders cannot be voted out and must be overthrown by stronger forces outside of (or within) their families. Rebellion against the evil civil authorities becomes their only recourse. The same is true of democracies and democratic republics that behave like monarchies. Clearly, human governments will eventually fail the less fortunate among their citizens. It is here that hope is found within the Background Scripture of our lesson. These psalms remind us of the ultimate outside force, God! God has a kingdom that is above all earthly governments. All earthly governments are subservient to God's kingdom. Unlike these human governments, the less fortunate are considered high priority in the kingdom of God. As a result of God's kingdom, the less fortunate have time on their side no matter which human government they may live under. Over the course of time, God overthrows human governments that abuse the less fortunate. God's kingdom is eternal, and eventually all human governments will be ended by God. The declaration has gone forth and it will not be rescinded. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that the King of God's government is Lord of all. There are no exceptions to this decree of God. God knows everything and God sees everything. He will recompense evil to evil doers. None of this will require the vote of people nor will it require people to overthrow abusive governments. Evil leaders will be caught in their own snares. The less fortunate will tell of all God's marvelous works. This will be their testimony. They will praise God for His protection from their enemies. All children of God have a testimony. Throughout recorded human history, God has always been a refuge in times of trouble. Survivors of those troubles sing praises to God for His eternal reign against evil and for righteousness. Robert C. Hudson December 19, 2024