The Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, 5/17/26

The title of the sermon today is The Ruler of

the Kings of the Earth. Our text is Psalm 2,

which we have just sung a versified or a made

-to -rhyme music about, Psalm 2. So now I'm going

to read Psalm 2 and then we're going to also

look at Acts chapter 1, verses 1 through 11.

Acts 1:1–11

Hear the word of the Lord from Psalm 2. This

is a prophecy about the Messiah to come. Why

do the nations rage and the people plot a vain

thing? The kings of the earth set themselves

and the rulers take counsel together against

the Lord and against his anointed saying, let

us break their bonds in pieces and cast away

their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens

shall laugh. The Lord shall hold them in derision.

Then he shall speak to them in his wrath and

distress them in his deep displeasure. Yet I

have set my king on my holy hill of Zion. I will

declare the decree. The Lord has said to me,

you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask

of me. And I will give you the nations for your

inheritance and the ends of the earth for your

possession. You shall break them with a rod of

iron. You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's

vessel. Now, therefore, be wise, O kings. Be

instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the

Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss

the son, lest he be angry. and you perish in

the way when his wrath has kindled but a little.

Blessed are all those who put their trust in

him. And now turning over to the book of Luke,

chapter, I'm sorry, the book of Acts, chapter

Acts 1 · chapter mention

1. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of

all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the

day in which he was taken up, after he through

the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the

apostles whom he had chosen, to whom he also

presented himself alive after his suffering by

many infallible proofs, being seen of them during

forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining

to the kingdom of God, and being assembled together

with them, he commanded them not to depart from

Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the

father, which he said, you have heard it from

me for John truly baptized with water, but you

shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Not many

days from now. Therefore, when they had come

together, they asked him saying, Lord, will you

at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? He

said to them. It is not for you to know times

or seasons which the Father has put in his own

authority. But you shall receive power when the

Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall

be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea

and Samaria and to the end of the earth. Now

when he had spoken these things, while they watched,

he was taken up. And the cloud received him out

of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly

toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men

stood by them in white apparel, who also said,

Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into

heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from

you into heaven, will so come in like manner

as you saw him go into heaven. Let's pray and

ask for God's blessing on this time. Our Father,

we thank you, Lord, for these rich truths contained

in these passages. Lord, there is so much here.

And we can only do a bit, Lord, in this time

allotted here before us. And so I pray, God,

that you would give us the strength and that

you would open up our minds and help us to understand

these truths, Lord. And through it all, Lord,

I pray for worship, that we might truly worship

you, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our sovereign

King. And ruler. We ask for your blessing on

this time. In the name of Jesus. Amen. John.

To the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace

to you and peace from him who is. And who was.

And who is to come. And from the seven spirits

who are before his throne. And from Jesus Christ.

the faithful witness, the firstborn from the

dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth,

to him who loved us and washed us from our sins

in his own blood, and has made us priests and

kings to his God and Father, to whom be glory

and dominion forever and ever. Amen. With these

resounding words of greeting from John to the

seven churches of Asia, the Apostle John begins

the Apocalypse, that great book of the revelation

of Jesus Christ which God gave to him to show

his servants things which must shortly come to

pass. I take the title of this sermon from this

most important description of Jesus and his mediatorial

reign. That is, that he is the ruler of the kings

of the earth, for he is the prince, the chief

ruler, the magistrate, the commander, and chief.

Today is Ascension Sunday. It's the first Sunday

after Ascension Day, which falls 40 days after

Easter. And on this day, the church rejoices

in the coronation of Jesus Christ as our mediatorial

king. So we remember and celebrate the moment

when our Lord Jesus, after he completed the redemptive

work on earth, he ascended from the Mount of

Olives into heaven. There he was received with

heavenly acclaim and worship and was seated at

the right hand of the majesty on high. This triumphant

reality is beautifully declared in the book of

Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 1 to 4, which reads,

Hebrews 1:1–4

God, who at various times and in various ways

spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

has in these last days spoken to us by his Son.

whom he has appointed heir of all things, through

whom also he made the world, who, being the brightness

of his glory and the express image of his person

and upholding all things by the word of his power,

when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down

at the right hand of the majesty on high. Having

become so much better than the angels as he has

by inheritance obtained a more excellent name

than they. While the eternal son of God has always

been king by virtue of his divine nature. In

his ascension, he is now enthroned as the mediatorial

king. That is the God. Who represents us. That

through his incarnation. And his sinless life.

His atoning death. His bodily resurrection. And

his ascension. He has become the true and perfect

mediator. Between God and man. And such as he

is then. He is our mediator and our king. Or

mediatorial king. This very scene. Of Jesus ascension.

And coming to the father. Was foreseen. It was

prophesied. Way back in the book of Daniel. The

prophet Daniel. Who had this vision. This was

centuries earlier. And Daniel records these words.

He says. I was watching in the night visions.

And behold. One like the son of man. coming with

the clouds of heaven. He came to the ancient

of days, and they brought him near before him.

Then to him was given dominion and glory and

a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting

dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom

the one which shall not be destroyed. This is

in Daniel 7, verse 13 and 14. So we celebrate

Daniel 7:13

the ascension of Jesus Christ. He is our prince.

He is our king. He is the ruler of the kings

of the earth, as we read in Revelation 1, verse

Revelation 1:5

5. He reigns and his kingdom will never end.

So today, we remember this great event, but there's

also more. So on this Sunday, We also join together

with many others in our nation who today are

reflecting on God's providence and giving thanks

and praise to God for these 250 years of his

guidance in our nation, his guidance and his

grace of our own nation, the United States of

America. And we pray that God would bless and

protect America for the next 250 years. and solemnly

rededicate our country as one nation under God.

There's a big rally in Washington, D .C., a service

being held today on this. There's also a rally

this evening at Boise on the Capitol steps, a

time of remembrance. I will not be able to be

there because we're traveling, but it is a time

of remembrance. And then on top of all of this,

if this were not enough, we are also privileged

to participate this week in an election. An election

for the governor of our state, for a United States

senator, a state senator, two state representatives,

as well as various judges and commissioners and

assessors and others. So in light of Christ being

the ruler of the rulers and of the ruler of the

civil leaders of our state, how should this affect

our thinking about them or our voting? And how

should Christ's church speak to them and instruct

them as our representatives? So in consideration

of all of these things, as we celebrate Christ

being seated as the mediatorial king, the time

of remembrance and praise to God for our own

nation, and the upcoming election, I've chosen

today to speak or to preach on Psalm 2. Psalm

2 is one of the greatest messianic psalms in

the Bible. It is a royal psalm. It is one of

the most frequently... quoted in the New Testament.

The only one, to my knowledge, that is quoted

more is Psalm 110, which is also about the kingship

of Christ. These two psalms compose a huge amount

of the quotations of the psalms in the New Testament.

The apostles in their preaching continually referred

to either Psalm 110 or Psalm 2. So it contrasts

the futile rebellion of earthly rulers against

God and of God's anointed king with his sovereign

response and ultimate victory. It then ends with

a clear call of warning and invitation to all

kings, all rulers, all judges, all magistrates,

instructing them to be wise and to serve Jesus

Christ, the anointed one. So we're going to break

this down into four different sections as we

look at Psalm 2. The first is the rebellion of

the nations, which is in verses 1 to 3. Why?

Why do the nations rage? and the people plot

a vain thing. The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together against

the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let

us break their bonds in pieces and cast away

their cords from us. This psalm begins with a

question. Why do the nations rage? Why are the

people plotting a vain thing? Why is there a

great foment and an uprising, a stirring against

the authority of the tribes? We are shown the

very great struggle between the kingdom of Christ

and the dominion of Satan. The prince of the

power of the air. The spirit which now works

in the sons of disobedience. As Paul says in

Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 2. There is a rage

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

against the Lord and against his anointed Christ.

It is a despising of the authority that is wielded

by almighty God. The nations are in a tumult,

a commotion of rebellion, of conspiring and plotting

against the authority of Jehovah and of his anointed

one, Jesus Christ. This rebellion is held by

kings and rulers who do not fear God and obey

his commandments. Now in the apostolic age of

the early church, this describes both their Roman

overlords and the Jewish civic and... religious

leaders in Acts chapter 4 after the healing of

Acts 4 · chapter mention

the lame man in the temple what did the chief

priest do did they rejoice about it no no they

threatened the church and they commanded them

not to speak in the name or to teach in the name

of Jesus so after they received the threat the

apostles were then left go and they gathered

together and what did they do they prayed from

Psalm 2 right here They prayed from this psalm

and they applied it directly to their situation.

So when they heard that, they raised their voice

to God with one accord and said, Lord. You are

God who made heaven and earth and the sea and

all that is in them, who by the mouth of your

servant David have said, Why did the nations

rage and the people plot vain things? The kings

of the earth took their stand and the rulers

were gathered together against the Lord and his

Christ. For truly against your holy servant Jesus,

whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate

with the Gentiles, And the people of Israel were

gathered together to do whatever your hand and

your purpose determined before to be done. Acts

Acts 4:24–28

chapter 4 verses 24 through 28. They saw this

as fulfilling this passage, fulfilling this psalm.

And it included both the Gentile leaders as well

as the Jewish leaders. They all were conspiring

together against God. Then a chapter later in

Acts we see it again when the high priest rose

up and all those who were with him and they were

filled with indignation at what was happening.

They put the apostles in prison, but God delivered

them by an angel who opened the prison doors.

The leaders brought them again into their council

and they commanded them not to speak in the name

of Jesus. You would think that by now they would

be learning this is a futile command because

they're just going to go out and do it again.

And indeed, Peter and the other apostles answered

them and said, we ought to obey God rather than

men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,

whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him,

God has exalted to his right hand to be a prince

and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness

of sins. And we are witnesses to these things.

And so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has

given to those who obey him. Acts 5, verse 29

Acts 5:29–32

to 32. So when they heard this, Verse 33, they

were furious and plotted to kill them. Wicked

rulers hate the fact that Christ rules over them

and that they are accountable to God for their

actions. And so they fight against his people.

They hate him and fight against his people. people

they set themselves they took counsel together

they desire to break his bonds and cords that

overrule them they have not yet learned what

the great king Nebuchadnezzar did after his humiliation

when God took away his kingdom for a time and

he ate with the beasts of the field and so he

did for seven years and when and after his understanding

came back to him he said this is the testimony

of Nebuchadnezzar I blessed the Most High, and

I praised and honored Him who lives forever,

for His dominion is an everlasting dominion.

His kingdom is from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed

as nothing. He does according to his will and

the army of heaven and among all the inhabitants

of the earth. No one can restrain his hand or

say to him, what have you done? And then here's

Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony in response.

He says, now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol

and honor the king of heaven, all whose works

are truth and his ways justice and those who

walk in pride he is able to put down. Nebuchadnezzar

learned his lesson. And you would think that

others would look and see his example. But, alas,

the rulers of the Apostles' Day did not do so.

They continued in their rebellion against him,

both the Gentile and the Jewish rulers. Now,

whether it is the rage of the Empress at the

time of the Boxer Rebellion in the early 1900s,

then followed by Chairman Mao in China, or the

Roman emperors Nero or Decius or Diocletian,

Or the waves of Islamic conquest of Tamerlane

in the 14th century. Or the Ottoman Empire with

the millions killed. In the Armenian, the Assyrian,

and the Greek genocides. And they were genocides

of... Christians in the early 1900s, or the 20th

century communist regimes of the Soviet Union,

or China, North Korea, and Romania, or the current

day slaughter of Christian believers in Nigeria,

where they are being slaughtered by the dozens

and sometimes even hundreds. The forced conversions

in Pakistan or the Islamic extreme persecution

and violence in Somalia and Sudan and Eritrea

and others or the systematic removal of Christian

influence and authority in modern Western countries.

Indeed, the nations are raging against Christ.

They have raged and the people have plotted.

The kings and the rulers take counsel together

and they set themselves against Christ. They

rebel against him and they hate his people, the

church. This is the fact of the matter. And we

see this as prophesied in Psalm 2. They rage

and they take counsel together. Well, let's move

then to the next section, which is in verses

4 through 6. And in this, we see the response

from the Lord God. Before it was the Lord Jehovah,

but now here it is the Lord God Adonai. He who

sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall

hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to

them in his wrath and distress them in his deep

displeasure. Yet I have set my king on my holy

hill of Zion. The one who sits in the heavens

shall laugh. This is not a laugh of fun. This

is not a laugh of delight, of rejoicing at the

goodness of God. No, this is a laugh of derision.

A laugh of mockery and ridicule. It is the laugh

of the one who, as Isaiah says in chapter 40,

verse 22, he who sits above the circle of the

earth and its inhabitants. are like grasshoppers,

who stretches out the heavens like a curtain

and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

He brings the princes to nothing. He makes the

judges of the earth useless. It is the laughter

of the one with that authority, that authority

right now who inhabits eternity. He inhabits

the heavens and he looks down on the earth and

the whole earth is but a speck and the inhabitants

are just like him. No matter what men, even kings,

rulers, and judges devise against him, they continually

run up against the authority and the power of

God. The last pagan Roman emperor, who was Flavius

Claudius Julianus, also known as Julian the Apostate,

he made a very determined effort. But it was

one that was unsuccessful. A determined effort

to eradicate Christianity. And to revive traditional

Roman and Hellenistic religions. But he was unable

to do so. And as he was fatally pierced by a

spear. During his campaign against the Persian

Empire. He shouted out. And so the story goes.

That he shouted out. That is thou has conquered.

O Galilean, referring to Jesus, the Galilean,

thou hast conquered. The conspiring of the atheistic

and communistic regimes throughout the world

were and are unable to stop the advance of the

Christian faith. Even in many Islamic totalitarian

states, there are many former Muslims who are

coming to faith and trusting in Christ. Some

of them come where they're getting the word of

God through radio or through the internet or

others. And there's this underground movement

even in Iran. There are many, many Christians

who have been coming to faith in the last while.

Just a few. A few days ago, I received a word,

I received an email about something that's happening

in the country of Uzbekistan. So Uzbekistan is

a Central Asian country. It's there north of

India and not too far from Afghanistan and south

of Russia. It used to be a former Soviet country.

I had actually spent a number of times in this

country as a Muslim state in doing some Christian

work there a good number of years ago. But I

received word from Pastor Garrett. that there

are now two churches in the capital city that

is Tashkent that are thriving and growing one

or two of them may be joining our communion and

the parishioners are nearly all converts to the

Christian faith from Muslim background this is

happening right now brothers and sisters we need

to be praying for these people not only here

but I'm hearing it from many different Muslim

countries The laughter of God is a terrifying

laughter that makes one fall to the ground in

fear and trembling. This is the kind of laughter

that the Lord has against these rulers and judges.

And it is a laughter that is followed by the

Lord God Almighty speaking to them in His wrath

and in His deep displeasure. What is it that

He says? What words will he utter that will strike

this terror into them and be the action that

follows his wrath? Will he simply annihilate

them, remove them from office, or slow down the

advance? What are these words that despots hate

to hear? It is this, I have set my king. I have

set my king on my holy hill of Zion. This is

the same wrath that Herod had when he heard that

another king was born and by the wise men and

so he wanted them to come back so that he might

destroy him. It's the same rage that he had when

the wise men went home by a different way and

so he ordered the slaughter of all of the baby

boys to years and under in Bethlehem. Imagine

the terror and the horror of that as mothers

would... cling to their children and they would

be torn away by the soldiers at Herod's command

and put to death right on the spot it is that

kind of rage that they have against Christ as

king this is also expressed in other passages

because this is what God speaks to the rebellious

ones In Psalm 110, verse 1 and 2, I already referred

Psalms 110:1

to this. The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my

right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.

Now, what would happen if one of you would come

to your enemy and say, I'm going to make you

my footstool? Well, that's quite a derogatory

thing. I mean, it's something that really is

to put down. It's designed to humble them. And

what they're basically saying is, not only are

you going to submit to me, but I'm going to put

my feet on you. I'm going to rule over you. And

that is what God is saying to those who hate

him. I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion

and the Lord, then Psalm 110 verse 2, the Lord

Psalms 110:2

shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion,

rule in the midst of your enemies. Now Paul describes

this as happening at the resurrection and the

ascension of Christ. And he speaks about this

in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 17. He says, The

Ephesians 1:17

God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of glory, showed the working of his

mighty power, which he worked in Christ when

he raised him from the dead and seated him at

his right hand in the heavenly places. Far above

all principality and power and might and dominion

in every name that is named, not only in this

age, but also in that which is to come. And he

has put all things under. His feet. This is why.

Because this happened. When you look in the scriptures.

It's the resurrection and the ascension. And

they are tight together. 40 days apart. Yes.

But they are tight together. The enthronement

of Christ. The authority comes to him. At his

resurrection and ascension. When he is seated

at the right hand of the Father. This is why

Jesus could say to his disciples right at the

time of that ascension, this is just before he

goes up, just before he goes to his father, he

says, all authority has been given to me in heaven

and on earth. In heaven and on earth. Go therefore

and make disciples of all the nations. He is

king, and that word is to go throughout the whole

world to every nation, to every ruler, to every

king. And this is God's response to the connivers,

the plotters, the kings, and the rulers who rage

and take counsel against the Lord Jehovah and

his anointed one, Jesus. And we move on to the

third section, which is the decree. Of the anointed

king. Verses 7 through 9. I will declare the

decree. The Lord has said to me. You are my son.

Today I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will

give you the nations for your inheritance. And

the ends of the earth for your possession. You

shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall

dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. Now

in verse 7. There's a change in the person speaking.

The one who speaks, beginning in verse 7, is

now the anointed one who speaks. And he says,

I will declare the decree. And then he says,

the Lord, that is the Lord Jehovah, has said

to me, you are my son. Today I have begotten

you. So this is Jesus speaking, and he is speaking

that this is what the Father has said to him.

Jesus was begotten in his humanity. when conceived

by the Holy Spirit in Mary. But the New Testament

writers apply this verse to being begotten when

God publicly declared Jesus as the risen enthroned

son, when he was vindicated and installed as

the heir and the king at the time of his resurrection,

followed by his exaltation. So, for example,

Paul, when he's preaching to the Jews at Antioch

of Pisidia in Acts chapter 13, He says, God has

Acts 13 · chapter mention

fulfilled for us their children. God has fulfilled

this for us, their children, in that he has raised

up Jesus as it is also written in the second

Psalm, you are my son, today I have begotten

you. So Paul takes this verse right here, this

being begotten, today I begotten you, as referring

right to the time of the resurrection and the

ascension. Romans 1, Paul says of Jesus that

he was born of the seed of David according to

the flesh and declared to be the son of God with

power according to the spirit of holiness. How?

By the resurrection of the dead. Through him,

we have received grace and apostleship for obedience

to the faith among all nations for his name's

sake. Romans 1, verse 1 to 5. Now the Lord Jehovah,

Romans 1:1–5

I'm sorry. Jesus is quoting here what God has

said to him, what the Lord Jehovah said to him.

And this is continued now in verse 8. So the

father says, ask of me and I will give you the

nations for your inheritance and the ends of

the earth for your possession. The word is clear.

Jesus is king, not only of the Jews, but of all

nations on earth. They belong to him. Again,

we consider Jesus' words in the Great Commission.

Jesus testifies that he has asked and received.

Consider the vastness and the comprehensiveness

of this statement. And Jesus came and spoke to

them, saying, All authority has been given to

me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and

make disciples of all the nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe

all things that I have commanded you. And, lo,

I am with you even to the end of the age. Amen.

And thus ends. The book of Matthew. Matthew does

not specifically speak of his ascension, but

the other passages, the other books of the Bible

do, the other gospels. The claim of Jesus is

complete. It is full. He is an authority. And

all are called to recognize that authority and

to bow before him. This means then that all religions

are not equal. All religions do not lead to God.

Jesus' claim is fully and completely exclusive.

John 14, verse 6. Jesus said to him, I am the

John 14:6

way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through me. You reject Jesus,

you don't have eternal life, and you don't have

the Father. Acts 4, verse 12. Nor is there salvation

Acts 4:12

in any other, for there is no name under heaven

given among men by which we must be saved. And

1 John 2, verse 23. Whoever denies the Son does

1 John 2:23

not have the Father either. He who acknowledges

the Son... has the Father also. You want to worship

God. You want to get to God. You want to have

peace with God. It's got to be through the Son.

It must be through Jesus Christ. There is no

other way. Jehovah continues then in verse 9,

back in Psalm 2. He says, You, that is you my

son, you the king, you shall break them with

a rod of iron. you shall dash them to pieces

like a potter's vessel. Now Jesus says that he

is the good shepherd who will give his life for

his sheep and he will feed his flock. He is the

one that he says will not break a bruised reed

or quench the smoking flax, indicating his love

and his care for his servants. Jesus is the one

who says, cast all your cares upon me for I care

for you. But, as Isaiah says in chapter 43, verse

2, He shall also bring forth judgment unto truth.

He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he

has set judgment on the earth and the isles shall

wait for his law. See, Jesus is the one who is

both a tender shepherd. He's the one who gives

his life for the sheep and he feeds his flock.

But he is also the king. And he rules and he

reigns and he rides the horses described in Revelation

and carries out the judgments that belong to

the people to whom he judges. So he is both.

And here we see him described as the one who

has a scepter, a scepter of iron. It's a rod.

And with this, he will dash to pieces. the nations

and the kings and the rulers who rebel against

him. And he will do so like a potter's vessel.

You think of a clay pot and you take an iron

rod and you smash it and it breaks into smithereens.

That's exactly the way that this is described.

The judgment and the rule of Christ to those

who rebel is like one who wields an iron rod

against a clay pot. pot and smashes it to bits

the breaking with this rod of iron which is the

scepter of righteousness this speaks of the initial

context of this song it is against those who

rage and set themselves against the Lord and

his anointed it is the rebellious ones that Is

our Jesus. Not only is he meek and lowly in heart.

But he has been installed as king over all. All

nations. All peoples. All dominions. All powers.

All authorities. For he has all authority in

heaven and on earth. And those who rebel will

be put down. They will be smashed. And yes. This

includes the United States of America. If we

do not repent and embrace Christ. These are sobering.

sobering words. When we say that Christ is Lord

over all, that he is the King of kings and the

Lord of lords, so many times we in the modern

church have diminished these glorious statements

by saying he's Lord of our hearts. We only apply

it to our own hearts. And truly, he is Lord of

our hearts, but that's not it. That's not all.

We say that Christ is Lord of our hearts or of

our spiritual worship, which indeed He is, but

it does not stop there. Or perhaps we include

His Lordship as head over the church. And indeed,

He is Lord of the church, but it doesn't stop

there. We shorten and we truncate this grand

and glorious vision. Look over at Colossians

Colossians 1:15–18

1, verse 15 through 18. Look at this world -changing

vision. comprehensive and expansive scope of

the reign of Christ. Paul says, He is the image

of the invisible God. He is the firstborn over

all creation. For by Him were all things created

that are in heaven and on earth, visible and

invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities

or powers. All things were created through Him.

and get this, and for him, and for him. And he

is before all things, and in him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church, who

is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

that in all things, in all things, in everything,

he may have the preeminence. This is Christ.

There is not one square inch on earth where Jesus

does not say this is mine. There is nothing.

There's no principalities. There's no powers.

There's no nation. There's no king. There's no

ruler. There's no father or mother. There's no

judge where God does not say what you do belongs

to me and you belong to me and you need to serve

me. You need to bow before me. You need to humble

yourself before me and worship me alone. Christ

is Lord over all. Finally then, we come to the

last part and that is the warning and invitation

to the rulers, verses 10 through 12. Now therefore

be wise, O kings. In light of what was just said

here, in light of the rod, in light of the being

dashed to pieces, be wise, O kings. Be instructed,

you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with

fear. Rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son lest

he be angry and you perish in the way when his

wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all

those who trust in him. Who put their trust in

him. The psalmist now gives instruction to earthly

rulers and judges and this is just as applicable

today as to when it was originally written and

as in the apostles day. It is just. the same

way. He gives instruction to earthly rulers and

the judges. In light of the authority of the

anointed king, be wise, be instructed, you judges.

And then he gives the gospel to them so that

they do not anger the king and perish. What does

he tell them? Serve the Lord with fear, rejoice

with trembling, and kiss the sun. To kiss the

son is an expression of deep humility and obedience

and belief that one ruler or king would do to

another ruler or to a higher ruler or king. And

so he says to the rulers and the judges, bow

before the son. Kiss him. Say to him, you are

my lord and master. I will serve you. Forgive

me for my rebellion against you. I bow before

you. And I kiss you. These are acts of repentance,

of humility, and of subservience to the master,

the king, over all. And then he says, a blessing

will come on all those who in authority put their

trust in Christ. This is the way the apostles

thought. We see Paul standing before Felix in

Agrippa and then later Caesar. What does Paul

do when he stands before them? To Felix, he reasoned

about righteousness and self -control and the

judgment to come. And Felix was so afraid and

he answered, go away for now. When I have a convenient

time, I will call for you. To King Agrippa, Paul

appeals, King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?

I know that you believe. And then Agrippa said

to Paul, you almost persuade me to become a Christian.

And Paul said, I would to God that not only you,

but also all who hear me today might become both

almost and altogether such as I am, except for

these chains. Acts chapter 26, verse 27. We can

Acts 26:27

be sure that as he had opportunity, he did the

same. stood before Caesar, for we know that some

in Caesar's household believed. Paul writes to

the Philippians, all the saints greet you, but

especially those who are of Caesar's household.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you

all. Amen. Philippians 4, 22 and 23. There is

no way that we can say, based on this Foundational

scripture. There's no way that we can say, well,

God doesn't really care about the political sphere.

We just need to focus on that which is spiritual.

We need to focus just on the church and obviously...

We need a faithful church. And it's out of faithful

worship that all of these other things flow.

We need to have the right order. But it doesn't

stop at the church doors. It doesn't stop just

with the Christian believers in their hearts

worshiping God. It flows out to the workplace.

It flows out to the various jobs that we have.

It flows out to... the rulers and the kings and

the judges and the legislators and the assessor's

office and the commissioner's office and all

of the other offices that exist in our form of

government. It flows out to them all. We cannot

say that politics is dirty and Christians should

stay away from it or that it is not appropriate

for a Christian to be a judge or a magistrate

or a ruler. This psalm shows the ascended Christ

in his glory and in his inheritance. And to him,

kings and rulers and judges and all nations must

bow and serve. And when they do so, they will

be blessed and they will be spared the rod of

iron and its judgment. Blessed are all those

who put their trust in him. Well, let's consider

just a few applications here at the end. So one

might ask them, well, how should we choose and

elect and vote for or elect our governor, our

legislators, our judges and leaders? By what

standard? Well, we're going to look here at what

the ideal is. And so that is what we strive for.

First of all, choose those who have bowed to

Christ, who love him and who serve him. Psalm,

Proverbs 29, two, when the righteous are in authority,

the people rejoice. But when a wicked man rules,

the people's grown. Secondly, look for those

who are just and rule in the fear of God. Second

Samuel 23 in verse three, the God of Israel said,

the rock of Israel spoke to me. He who rules

over men must be just ruling in the fear of God.

Also. Also, they should have the ability to serve

and lead well. It is not enough just to be a

Christian. When you come to the various tasks

of office, they must also have ability. This

is in Exodus 18, verse 21 and 22. Moreover, you

Exodus 18:21

shall select from all the people able men. Such

as men who fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness,

and place such over them to be rulers of thousands,

rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifty, and rulers

of ten. In order to be faithful in greater situations,

a key principle that Jesus articulates in Luke

Luke 16:10

16 verse 10 is that they have proven themselves

to be faithful in little. He says, he who is

faithful in what is least. is faithful also in

much. And he who is unjust in what is least is

unjust also in much. So in other words, don't

just look for somebody who proclaims it, but

their life is a mess. They don't have their own

house in order. Well, no, then they're not fit

to be a leader either. So that's something else

to consider. Number four, they must not pervert

judgment or be partial or punish the innocent

and righteous. Exodus 23, verse 6, you shall

Exodus 23:6

not pervert the judgment of your poor in his

dispute. Keep yourself far from a false matter.

Do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I

will not justify the wicked, and you shall take

no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and

perverts the words of the righteous. Number five,

they must understand the difference between good

and evil. Must understand the difference between

good and evil. Paul gives instructions in Romans

13. For rulers are not a terror to good works

but to evil. Do you want to not be afraid of

the authority? Do what is good and you will have

praise from the same. For he is God's minister

to you for good. But if you do evil. Be afraid,

for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he

is God's minister and avenger to execute wrath

on him who practices evil. Now this description,

this proscription here by Paul, this is how rulers

are to be. They must understand what good is

and what evil is. And they promote the good and

they bless the good and they punish the evil.

That's part of their duty. It's part of their

responsibility as a minister, a deacon of God.

Now, of course, the question comes up, what if

there are none like that on the ballot? And what

do we do? So, obviously, there are some who will

say, well, you need to... just do this and you

write somebody in somebody that's not on the

ballot but we we also know that on the ballot

there's always it's going to be one of these

that are chosen that's the way our system is

there's other types of systems but for here it's

one or the other so my counsel then is this and

this is a counsel more of wisdom uh as as i see

it it is to choose the one most likely to leave

us alone So that we can live a quiet and a peaceable

life in all godliness and reverence. And this

comes from 1 Timothy chapter 2. Paul says, therefore

1 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

I exhort first of all that supplications and

prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be

made for all men, for kings and all who are in

authority. For what? That we may lead a quiet

and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

So there, even if the candidates don't meet nearly

all what I outlined before, then we can at least

seek to choose the one who will leave us alone

the best so that we can worship God and honor

him in every way. But at the same time, we should

pray for them, again, 1 Timothy 2, that they

would be saved and come to the knowledge of the

truth. And not only should we pray, but we should

also disciple. We should teach and prepare future

candidates who do fulfill these biblical standards.

It is my prayer that God will use some in this

congregation to serve our towns or our counties

and our state in this way, or perhaps even at

a national level. Pastor Kevin DeYoung, in his

excellent article, The Presbyterian Signers of

the Declaration of Independence, which he gives

a history of the amount of Presbyterians who

signed the Declaration. He gives some of their

story. So he writes about the founder and pastor,

John Witherspoon. I quote, as a local church

pastor in the Church of Scotland, Witherspoon

proved to be an effective evangelical preacher

and writer, often railing against the doctrinal

declension of the moderate wing of the Kirk.

His church in Paisley, which had to be expanded

to accommodate the growing congregation, could

seat 1 ,300 worshipers. And then he moved to

the United States, and he became president of

Princeton University. And I pick it up again.

As Princeton's president, Witherspoon set the

college on firm financial footing and established

it as one of the leading institutions in the

new republic. in the new republic. Witherspoon

personally instructed an entire generation of

educators, legislators, and statesmen. Of his

469 graduates, 114 became ministers, 14 became

college presidents, and 13 went on to serve as

governors. A list of his Princeton graduates

includes 12 members of the Continental Congress,

five delegates to the Constitutional Convention,

five of them, one U .S. president, James Madison,

one vice president, 49 representatives, 28 senators,

three Supreme Court justices, eight district

judges, one secretary of state, three attorneys

general, and two foreign ministers. From one

man's teaching, in a faithful way. Of what God

had laid on his heart. Regarding the principles

of Christian civil government. This is what is

needed today. Is pastors all over. And teachers.

To teach. To teach faithfully. To raise up candidates

all over the place. That will honor God in this

way. This is so urgently needed. Finally then.

Let us rejoice. In God's good providence. We

talked about the time today of rejoicing in God's

providence in our last 250 years. Now we know

that in the last 250 years of history, there

also has been a lot of sin. We know that. And

it's good and right to confess the sins of our

nation. But here's the thing. We must not let

the sins and the wrongs outweigh the fact of

the blessings and the goodness of God on our

nation. We have experienced an immeasurable amount

of God's goodness and grace and glory upon us.

I mean, think about it, that God would not destroy

Sodom in all of its wickedness if there were

just ten righteous there. And we think of in

percentage wise of how many faithful believers

are here. And it's a much greater percentage.

And for that we must rejoice. So whereas we can

weep and sorrow for the sins of our nation. We

can also rejoice in God's good and great providence.

And for the righteous rulers that we have had.

And give praise to him for it. But then. As we

thank God for his work in our nation, let us

call on our rulers to fear God and bow before

Christ and let us be a preparing ground for others

in the future. Let us then firmly resolve to

repent of our sins before a holy and just God

and before Jesus Christ, the ruler of the nations,

the ruler. Of the kings of the earth. Let us

beseech him for his mercy. On our nation. On

our state. And on our counties. And let us look

to him for wisdom. Let us reflect on God's providence

throughout the last 250 years and honor the faith

that inspired America's founders and has carried

us forward in every generation since. Let us

remember the testimonies of God's work and of

his healing in our lives and in our land and

of the many wonderful things that we have seen

throughout the course of our history. But then

let us pray and work for a new birth of faith.

and freedom. Expressing gratitude, yes, but let

us also rededicate our lives and our state and

our nation to God. Let us acknowledge our King

Jesus, the ruler of nations. Let us ask for his

blessing, his guidance, and his grace for the

next 250 years. In the name of the Father, and

the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen. Let's pray.