A Righteous King

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-28-2024

Psalm 21

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 21 is Davidic and gives a description of his reign.  I fully understand the recorded failures of this great king but the last chapter of his life was written by God in the inspired words,

 

“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” (Acts 13:22)

 

B.  In 2 Samuel, chapter 23 (the last chapter of the book and the last chapter of King David’s life), we find the “last words” of Israel’s greatest king! 

 

1.  I have often read about the last words recorded of famous men and women. I do not want to give their quotes but do want to look at David’s. 

 

2.  Last words often speak of the way one lived and often the condition in which they died.

 

3.  Last words are important in the Bible as they express a legacy from which others may find both strength and purpose.

 

C.  King David’s last recorded words were given by inspiration of God!  Therefore, they were right words; they were righteous words.

 

D. In the introduction of David’s last words, we find the requirements of righteousness for those who rule.  It is God that puts men in office, and it is God that takes these same men out of office.  Government is of God!

 

Daniel 2:20-21  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:  (21)  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

 

Acts 13:21-22  And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.  (22)  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

 

E.  I want to use a three of verses out of the Book of 2 Samuel to introduce this message as they give the Biblical definition of a righteous King.

 

2 Samuel 23:1-3  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  (2)  The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.  (3)  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

 

F.  With this in mind, let us look at Psalm 21.

 

1.  In verse 1, we find the Joy of a Righteous King.

 

a.  The Joy of God’s Strength.  The promise of God given to the man on the throne who is just and fears God.  His strength is ALWAYS sufficient for every task ahead.

 

b.  The Joy of God’s Salvation.  This is both spiritual and temporal.  Spiritual salvation through faith and physical salvation (deliverance) in battles and earthly strife.

 

2.  In verses 2-10.  The Blessings of a Righteous King.

 

a.  Verse 2, The Blessing of Answered Prayer.

 

b.  Verse 3, the Blessing of an Exalted Position.  A king in which the people can be proud.

 

c.  Verse 4, the Blessing of a Long Life.  A life that is not only long but full and blessed.

 

d.  Verse 5, The Blessing of  Glorious Life.  A life that radiates the glory of God.

 

e.  Verse 6, the Blessing of Gladness. A life that is full of joy and happiness.  Happiness is the Lord!

 

f.  Verse 7, the Blessing of Stability. A life that does not change through circumstances.  A life that is stable and consistent.

 

g.  Verse 8, the Blessing of Discernment.  The wisdom to know who is for you and who is against you and how to thwart their purposes.

 

h.  Verse 9-12, the Blessing of Protection and Victory.  No weapon formed against a righteous king will prosper.  God will both be with and guide in battle if the cause is just.

 

i.  Verse 13, the Blessing of Worship. A righteous king will both worship with his live and lips, giving all credit and glory to the One who is altogether worthy of praise.

 

Conclusion:  We live in days of unjust and unrighteous men who have no fear of God.

 

1.  A government that is perfectly good with killing God’s heritage, the fruit of the womb.

 

Psalms 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 

2.  A government that is perfectly good with sodomy.

 

Romans 1:26-27  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  (27)  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

 

3.  A government that is perfectly good with the misuse of power and law.

 

1 Timothy 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

 

4.  Can you imagine the blessings, protection, provision, power, and victory that America could experience today with justice and the fear of God in government!

Submission To Government

Temple Baptist Church - 5-31-2017

1 Peter 2:13-16

Introduction:

A.  As we read these verses tonight, we need to once again consider them within the context in which they are written.

1.  We live in days of civil disobedience.  People in our day have a real problem with authority of any kind: in the home, in the schools, and to the governmental laws.

2.  These dispersed Jews (strangers-scattered) were being heavily persecuted the civil government.  Paul is writing to them to, despite the persecution, submit to the government they lived under.

B.  To many of these Jews, this must have seemed a “bitter pill” to swallow. 

Romans 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  (Paul said to fear, obey, and honor those in authority.)

Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,  (Paul said here to be good citizens and not speak against or resist the powers that be.)

C.  God gave these persecuted Jews neither excuse or exemption in the realm or submission to the “powers that be.”  I have known preachers who gave excuses for disobedience to law.

Romans 13:1-2  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  (2)  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

1.  Submission To Government is our Duty - Romans 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Proverbs 24:21  My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

2.  Submission To Government does have a Condition - Acts 5:26-29  Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

3.  Submission To Government demands Submission - 1 Peter 2:13-17  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,  (Magistrate - A public civil officer, invested with the executive government of some branch of it. In this sense, a king is the highest or first magistrate, as is the President of the United States.  But the word is more particularly applied to subordinate officers, as governors, intendants, prefects, mayors, justices of the peace, and the like.)

4.  Submission To Government pays Taxes - Matthew 22:17-22   Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.  When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

TRIB'UTE, n. 1.  An annual or stated sum of money or other valuable thing, paid by one prince or nation to another, either as an acknowledgment of submission, or as the price of peace and protection, or by virtue of some treaty.  The Romans made all their conquered countries pay tribute

5.  Submission To Government commands Respect - Exodus 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Acts 23:5  Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Ecclesiastes 10:20  Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Jude 8-10  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignity.es (An elevated office, civil or ecclesiastical, giving a high rank in society; advancement; preferment, or the rank attached to it)  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation (to speak evil against or to condemn), but said, The Lord rebuke thee.  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

                                                                                            

6.  Submission To Government requires Supplication - 1 Timothy 2:1-2  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

7.  Submission To Government brings Results - 1 Peter 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: