Read Leviticus 18, Isaiah 14, Psalms 45-47.
This devotional is about Psalm 47.
What would it be like to live in a world where Jesus is the government?
Psalm 47 answers that question. Notice that this Psalm repeatedly describes a worldwide kingdom ruled by God.:
- Verse 2 calls him “…the great King over all the earth.”
- Verse 7 says, “For God is the King of all the earth.
- Verses 8 and 9 say “God reigns over all the nations… for the kings of the earth belong to God…”
Other governments still exist in the world this Psalm describes (v. 9). but they have been subdued by Jesus (v. 3) and now their leaders worship him just as every Israelite does (v. 9a-b).
So the Psalmist here is describing a world where Jesus is king and every nation is subject to him. But, again I ask, what is that world like? What is it like to live where Jesus is the government–the ruling king over all other rulers?
The answer is that world is a world of joy.
- Verse 1 calls all nations to “clap your hands” and “shout to God with cries of joy.”
- Verse 5 says that he has “ascended amid shouts of joy.”
- Verses 6 and 7 call people to “sing praises” to him.
Where God rules, there is joy. But the world has never known this kind of rule by God.
It is true that as the Creator and only God, the Lord rules over creation in his Sovereignty. But the world still lives in rebellion to him. The sinfulness of humanity is what causes war, man-to-man violence, unjust laws and judges, and every form of wickedness that we see around us.
There is a day coming, however, when Christ will return and will establish his kingdom on this earth. Revelation 19 describes Christ’s coming “…to strike down the nations… [and] rule them with an iron scepter (Rev. 19:15). Then, Revelation 20 describes him reigning for “a thousand years” (Rev 20:4). This is what is called the Millennium, when Christ fulfills all the promises God made to Israel in the covenants of the Old Testament. Jesus, the Davidic king, will rule on earth over all other kings.
This is what the Psalmist was writing about here in Psalm 47. He was dreaming of the world as God promised it would be, a world presided over by Christ himself. In that world, Jesus will be king. He will be praised and exalted. And there will be joy for everyone who lives there.
The Millennial kingdom of Jesus will be succeeded by an eternal kingdom in a new heaven and a new earth as described in Revelation 21. That kingdom, too, will be a place of joy (Rev 21:4) and will last forever (Rev 22:5). This is what Christ calls us to live for and long for while we live in this world. This is what we are inviting people to receive when we share the gospel with them.
Has this world disappointed you? Of course it has; it is fallen and ruled by unrighteousness. When you feel frustrated by your own sins, limitations, and failures, remember what Christ has promised for us in his kingdom. Live for that; it will give you purpose and hope in this life and joy in all eternity.