Now, the Psalmists such as David and the sons of Korah were not the only people of Old Testament time who understood the Kingship of God and how the kingdoms of men related to it. Many of the prophets also received powerful visions and insight into the glory and splendor of God and His Kingdom. One of the most familiar of these visions is found in Isaiah:
(Please note Isaiah was called to be a Prophet)
1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2) Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3) And one cried to another and said, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole each is full of His glory!" 4) and the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out and the house was filled with smoke. 5) So I said, "Woe is me, for I am undone!" Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of the people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 6) Then one of the seraphim flew over me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. (Isaiah 6:1-6)
Now, it would be difficult to find more powerful depiction of a king on his throne than Isaiah's picture of the Lord surrounded by a host of angelic attendants who were ceaselessly praising Him and hastening to do His bidding. Isaiah recognized immediately that he was in the presence of absolute holiness and glory. He had "seen the King, the Lord Almighty" and the majesty of his vision so overwhelmed him that he feared for his life. His own human sinfulness stood out suddenly in such starkness against the awesome purity and holiness of God that Isaiah expected to be struck down at any moment. Instead, he experienced the merciful justice of God:
6) Then one of the seraphim flew over me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7) He touched my mouth with it, and said "Behold, this has touched your lips. Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged." 8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me" (Isaiah 6:6-8)
Isaiah's vision of God the King precipitated a spiritual crisis in his life. Once he had experienced the cleansing of his sin, the power of his vision inspired him to respond to the King's call. Isaiah became an ambassador for the Lord Almighty, called and appointed to proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God to a wayward people who ignored and rejected it.
In another place, Isaiah recorded the insight he had received regarding the King's heir and the nature and character of His Kingdom:
6) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom. To order it and establish it with judgement and justice from that time forward, ever forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
The question is: What is the Kingdom of God like? It is a realm ruled by a God who is mighty and everlasting and who is a Wonderful Counselor (a wise and just Judge); a realm characterized by peace, justice and righteousness.
Please note Jeremiah was another ambassador (if you will) who had a profound understanding of the kingly nature and lofty statutes of God. He said:
(Idols and the True God--Jeremiah 10:1-16)
6) Inasmuch as there is not like you, O Lord (You are great and Your name is great in might), 7) Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You. 10) But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the Earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation. (Jeremiah 10:6-7, 10)
To Jeremiah, God was "King of the nations" the true God... the living God...the eternal King whom people of all the nations should revere and honor. As King, God sat rightfully as judge of the Earth, and under His wrath and anger the nations could not endure. What a powerful picture of God! Jeremiah knew God as King, who was truly sovereign over His entire domain, both spiritual and physical. The strongest and most fearsome of human kingdoms are nothing in comparison to the Kingdom of God.
(Please note Isaiah was called to be a Prophet)
1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2) Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3) And one cried to another and said, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole each is full of His glory!" 4) and the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out and the house was filled with smoke. 5) So I said, "Woe is me, for I am undone!" Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of the people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 6) Then one of the seraphim flew over me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. (Isaiah 6:1-6)
Now, it would be difficult to find more powerful depiction of a king on his throne than Isaiah's picture of the Lord surrounded by a host of angelic attendants who were ceaselessly praising Him and hastening to do His bidding. Isaiah recognized immediately that he was in the presence of absolute holiness and glory. He had "seen the King, the Lord Almighty" and the majesty of his vision so overwhelmed him that he feared for his life. His own human sinfulness stood out suddenly in such starkness against the awesome purity and holiness of God that Isaiah expected to be struck down at any moment. Instead, he experienced the merciful justice of God:
6) Then one of the seraphim flew over me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7) He touched my mouth with it, and said "Behold, this has touched your lips. Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged." 8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me" (Isaiah 6:6-8)
Isaiah's vision of God the King precipitated a spiritual crisis in his life. Once he had experienced the cleansing of his sin, the power of his vision inspired him to respond to the King's call. Isaiah became an ambassador for the Lord Almighty, called and appointed to proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God to a wayward people who ignored and rejected it.
In another place, Isaiah recorded the insight he had received regarding the King's heir and the nature and character of His Kingdom:
6) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom. To order it and establish it with judgement and justice from that time forward, ever forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
The question is: What is the Kingdom of God like? It is a realm ruled by a God who is mighty and everlasting and who is a Wonderful Counselor (a wise and just Judge); a realm characterized by peace, justice and righteousness.
Please note Jeremiah was another ambassador (if you will) who had a profound understanding of the kingly nature and lofty statutes of God. He said:
(Idols and the True God--Jeremiah 10:1-16)
6) Inasmuch as there is not like you, O Lord (You are great and Your name is great in might), 7) Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You. 10) But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the Earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation. (Jeremiah 10:6-7, 10)
To Jeremiah, God was "King of the nations" the true God... the living God...the eternal King whom people of all the nations should revere and honor. As King, God sat rightfully as judge of the Earth, and under His wrath and anger the nations could not endure. What a powerful picture of God! Jeremiah knew God as King, who was truly sovereign over His entire domain, both spiritual and physical. The strongest and most fearsome of human kingdoms are nothing in comparison to the Kingdom of God.