©2023 Shoreshim Ministries. All Rights Reserved

Terms of use| Privacy

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. (Psalm 22:27-28)

In most rabbinical writings, commentators go to great lengths to discuss the distinctions between certain Hebrew words that, in our English translations, might not be so noticeable. One example is the difference between the word for “king” (מלך melekh) and the word for “ruler” (מושל moshel). In Hebrew thought, the king is one whose leadership is accepted by the people of their own free will whereas a ruler is one who leads by command. In other words, he forces his rule upon people without their consent.

Where Israel and the nations are concerned, Israel acknowledges the LORD as King meaning they have willingly accepted His rule and acknowledge His sovereignty. Obviously, that doesn’t mean that Israel has always been faithful to follow through on their commitment, and neither have most belivers for that matter. Still as a nation, Israel regards the Almighty as their King.

The nations, on the other hand, don’t readily accept God’s authority over them — they like to do things their own way — which is why David said, “He rules over the nations.” I take that to mean, even if they don’t acknowledge His authority, they are still bound to do His Will when and as He sees fit. For example, the pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar — the one who burned and looted Jerusalem and the Temple — is referred to, by God, as “My servant” (Jeremiah 25:9). He did things with the mind that he was in charge, never realizing he was unwittingly serving the God he and his people reviled.

While this may be the state of affairs currently, there is coming a day when all the nations of the earth will return to the LORD and regard Him as King. Between now and then, much will happen to demonstrate to the people of the world that, like it or not, the God of Israel is God! In the end though, as the prophet has foretold, “The Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be the Lord is one and His name one” (Zechariah 14:9). All nations will come up to Jerusalem to worship Him and acknowledge that He is LORD.

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait until then to proclaim Him as King. As His people, we should live in such a way that our life declares that He is our King and it is our honor to serve Him with our whole heart. May it be that those we encounter in life will see this and be moved to acknowledge Him as their King as well.

Blessings and Shalom,  

 

Bill 

 

Become a Premium Partner

or make a one time gift below.

Pin It on Pinterest