The Glory of God’s Kingdom

Psalm 145:10-19

GOLDEN TEXT: “Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.”—Psalm 145:13

NEXT to the blood of Christ, the ransom for all, the Scriptural doctrine of Messiah’s Kingdom takes its place in the faith structure of all Christians who know the plan of God. It stands related to the ransom as the arrangement of God by which the blessings of life secured by the blood of Christ are made available for the people. Christ came at His first advent to die for the world, and at His second advent He establishes His Kingdom, through which He will give life to all who accept the provision made for them through His blood.

The language of the Golden Text is very similar to that of Daniel 7:14,27 in which the prophet tells of the Kingdom or dominion which overthrows and takes the place of the kingdom symbolized by the fourth beast which he saw in his vision—that “great and terrible beast” which represents the Roman Empire. “All Thy works shall praise Thee,” the Psalmist writes, and surely the great work of re-establishing His sovereignty over the human race through the instrumentality of Christ’s Kingdom—to take the place of the beastly rule—will praise and magnify the name of Jehovah.

The first three verses of the lesson remind us of a blessed privilege belonging to the saints today; namely, that of announcing the good news of the Kingdom. “They shall speak of the glory of Thy Kingdom, and talk of Thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom,” declares the Psalmist. (Psalm 145:11,12) One of the evidences of enthusiastic faith in the corning triumph of righteousness through the establishment of the Lord’s Kingdom is the desire to speak of that Kingdom and thus to make known its glorious qualities.

Beginning with the 13th verse, David outlines some of the important things concerning the Lord’s Kingdom, the things which we today delight in making known to the people. It is to be, he reminds us, an “everlasting Kingdom.” Daniel 2:44 gives us the same thought, where the permanency of God’s Kingdom is contrasted with the passing of those kingdoms represented by the gold, silver, brass and iron of Nebuchadnezzar’s “Gentile Times” image. Unlike these, Daniel tells us, the divine Kingdom will not be left to other people, but it shall stand forever.

In the New Testament, particularly in I Corinthians 15 and Revelation 20, we learn that the first thousand years of the Kingdom will be under the administration of The Christ, Head and body. Paul explains that when all enemies are subdued, the Kingdom will be turned over to the Father. This thought, however, is not in conflict with the Old Testament prophecies concerning the permanency of God’s Kingdom, because the object of these prophecies is to assure us that control of the earth will not again revert to fallen and selfish men. Even when the restored “sheep” class of the next age are given the original dominion over the earth, which was forfeited by Adam, it will be because they will recognize the sovereignty of Jehovah’s will.

“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down,” continues David. (Psa. 145:14) This is true in a spiritual sense of the church during the Gospel Age; but here the Psalmist is evidently describing conditions during the Millennium. Restitution blessings will then be available. Those who conform to the righteous requirements of Christ’s Kingdom will be physically lifted up, or restored, in mind and body, and nothing will be permitted to hurt or destroy in all that holy Kingdom.

Just as the Lord supplies the church now with spiritual “meat in due season,” so He will provide for the daily needs of the people along material lines at that time. (Psa. 145:15) Nor will their instruction in righteousness be neglected. (Verse 7) David further assures us that the Lord will open His hand “and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

Our lesson indicates in verse 18 that the restitution blessings of the Kingdom may come to individuals in response to prayer. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth,” declares the prophet. To call upon the Lord in truth might well mean to do so both in sincerity and in harmony with the divine plan.

“He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.” (Verse 19) Those who then fear the Lord will desire that His will be done in and for them. The same principle will operate during the Millennium as now, when those who abide in Christ and His Word abides in them may ask what they will and their petition will be granted. (John 15:7) In both cases the desire, or the will, of the petitioners is in harmony with God’s will, hence they ask only what He desires to give. It will then be God’s will for the people to have physical health and to enjoy the material bounties of the earth. It shall also be His will for them to have their friends and relatives restored from death. What a time of rejoicing the Kingdom will bring to the people!

QUESTIONS:

May Christians engage in Kingdom work today?

In what sense will the Kingdom of Christ be everlasting?

Upon what basis will God give to the people of the next age the desires of their hearts?

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