Americans have a strange relationship to kings.
On the one hand, we don’t want a king. Every July 4th we celebrate how our country’s founders threw off the heavy boot of King George III. When those early Americans declared their independence, they also made another declaration: We don’t want a king.
On the other hand, even the most cursory survey of American popular culture shows that we do want a king. We think longingly about them. The final Lord of the Rings installment is titled The Return of the King - and his return is held out to us as good news! The king has returned to right what is wrong. One of this year’s most successful movies is Black Panther, the story of an African king wrestling to wield his power for the good of others. For a nation that fought a war to get rid of a king, we sure do spend a lot of time fantasizing about royalty.
We don’t want a king because we don’t want someone to tell us what to do. However, these fictional kings point to another truth about us. We long for someone to be in control. We yearn for someone who will use their power for our good. We crave the security that comes from knowing someone has both hands on the wheel. We fear an oppressive tyrant, but in at least some ways we all long for a good king.
The Bible tells us that God is a king. He offers security, reigning over the heavens and the earth. So what kind of king is he? The good kind or the bad kind? As if anticipating our question, the Psalms dedicate a whole genre of songs to an answer. These kingship psalms focus on what it means for God to be our king. For example, Psalm 93:1 begins with:
The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
The Psalmist tells us that God is a strong and majestic king. Verse 4 will go on to tell us that God the King is stronger than even the mighty sea. Why is that good news? Verse 5 will tell us:
Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, forevermore.
Because God is a strong king, he is also a trustworthy king. God is able to do what he promises to do. He doesn’t use his strength to oppress us or exploit us. He uses it to bless us. Remember when God said he would never leave you or forsake you? Because he’s a mighty king who can do whatever he pleases, he’s able to keep that promise to you. These kingship psalms assure us that not only is God a good king, he’s the best king.
These psalms should fuel our worship for God. They tell us something of who he is. In the case of Psalm 93, he is strong and trustworthy. We treasure God for what he has done for us. He has purchased our freedom at the price of Christ’s blood. But are we so quick to praise him for who he is? We should be, for our God’s character is worthy of our praises. Take a moment this week to reflect on who God is. Let Psalms 47, 97, and 99 assist you. Our God is a good king, worthy of our praise and affection.