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All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You” (Ps. 22:27, NASB). The “nations” are the Gentiles, the nations distinct from Israel. Verse 28 goes on to declare, “For the kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” Commenting, John Calvin says, “This passage, I have no doubt, agrees with many other prophecies which represent the throne of God as erected, on which Christ may sit to superintend and govern the world.”
Jesus Christ is the King of the nations. He is mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5). He sits on the throne of heaven, as Calvin again puts it, “that he may be the governor among the nations.” The reference is not to an impersonal providence reduced to fatalism. Rather, the reference is to Providence with a capital P. The world and the nations in it compose the kingdom of His power. Christ is the active governor of the nations.
Since this is the case, Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15, Rev. 17:14; 19:16). He is the King and Lord enthroned above all national presidents, prime ministers, dictators, and despots. The latter, of course, see themselves differently. As economist Thomas Sowell recently wrote, “The idea that government officials can play God from Washington is not a new idea” (Real Clear Politics, Aug. 24, 2009). It is an ancient idea. Yet presidents, governors, senators, representatives, mayors, city councils, and civil authorities ought to consciously bow the knee to Christ.
The Lord drove Nebuchadnezzar from office because He refused to bow to Christ. He banished Nebuchadnezzar, as He says, “ntil you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes” (Dan. 4:32). It appears that Nebuchadnezzar learned his lesson. Daniel 4 records his testimony. Nebuchadnezzar begins by acknowledging the Lord as King. “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His dominion is from generation to generation” (v. 4:3). He ends with a similar acknowledgement. “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation” (v. 4:34). Nebuchadnezzar may serve as a king, but he must do so recognizing that he performs his duties under the dominion of Christ and within the kingdom of His power.
The same is true for all present-day officials. They may serve, but they must do so recognizing they perform their duties under the dominion of Christ and within the kingdom of His power. Like Nebuchadnezzar at first, too many of these officials refuse to bow to Christ. Few present-day officials approach their tasks with the hearts of servants. Like Nebuchadnezzar, they seek their own praise, their own benefit, their own power, their own financial gain. They have the idea that government officials can play God.
Our response? First, we must embrace the truth. Christ is King. He is King of the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ireland and Scotland. Second, we must proclaim His truth. As we do so, we can trust Christ the King to turn the hearts of men and nations. “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations” (Ps. 22:27-28).
—Dennis J. Prutow www.reformedvoice.org/rptsprof