| The King is Coming
Verse 19:
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
I love the way Eugene Peterson paraphrases this verse: God has set his throne in heaven; he rules over us all. He's the King!
In verse 19 the Lord is on center stage. There are 2 things said about Him: (1) The Lord has established his throne in heaven and (2) his kingdom rules over all.
What we are saying is "his throne [is] in heaven" and "his kingdom" is universal.
Notice again that important word "all" in verse 19. This reminds me of the words of the resurrected Jesus in Matthew 28:18: And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth' (NASB).
Philippians 2:9-11: Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (NASB).
The ultimate fulfillment of that is seen in Revelation 19:6,7 : And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready' (NASB).
Warren Wiersbe said: No matter how difficult your situation may be today, no matter how discouraging the news, you can still lean on this: 'The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all'...
Carolyn Custis James in her book When Life and Beliefs Collide says: Even in the worst moments, God's scepter never slips from his hand.
Bishop Andrewes said: Do Thou, O Lord, I beseech Thee, in thine unspeakable loving affection so take order concerning me and so dispose, as thou knowest to be best liking unto Thee and most expedient for me.
Verse 20: Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
Now the Psalmist returns to the word "Praise". We had it occur 3 times back in verses 1 and 2. Now he is enlisting the "angels" in this great dramatic chorus and climax to this Psalm: Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones.
They are characterized as "angels" and "mighty ones." They are characterized in 2 ways. They "do his bidding" and "obey his word."
They are quick to carry out His will and they are quick to "obey his word."
This serves as a fine example for us to be quick to do His will and also to be quick to "obey his word."
I find myself with this verse in mind singing those phrases from that great old hymn Holy, Holy, Is What the Angels Sing: Holy, holy is what the angels sing, And I expect to help them make the courts of heaven ring; But when I sing redemption's story, they shall fold their wings, For angels never felt the joy that our salvation brings.
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