Here’s a political post for you as we approach a noisy and confused election season.
It is the duty of all the kings of the earth to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to govern in keeping with his justice and mercy.
Nebuchadnezzar is a fascinating character in the Bible. As the conquering king of Babylonia, we first meet him in the story as an army spreads across the near east, we’re told, as an instrument in the hands of the Lord to judge his unfaithful people. At first, he is not a good man. Yet, by the end of the story, he is in my estimation a believer.
Daniel is instrumental in this steady transformation, and we see Nebuchadnezzar (let’s call him Neb) as a figure most clearly in the early chapters of the book of Daniel. He and his friends are put into the king’s court as advisors, and immediately face threats to compromise on their convictions. Daniel and his friends navigate this by maintaining respect and honor to the king (1 Peter 2:17) while refusing to blur their principles, chiefly that of their ultimate loyalty to the true God. Daniel & Co. consistently hold their principles and communicate them clearly, all while fulfilling their role as court advisors as diligently as they possibly can, and this begins to catch Neb’s eye. He sees that these Yahweh worshippers are the best of class, and in spite of their subtle subversions, divine power is clearly with them. Neb slowly moves closer to the truth with each episode. First, he recognizes something special with these Israelites (1:19-20). Then he acknowledges Yahweh as the best of the gods, though not the one and only true God, and gives Daniel & Co. chief positions in his cabinet (2:46-49). Then, he blesses Yahweh and decrees official protections for Yahweh worshippers, and blasphemy laws for anyone who would speak against this God of Gods. (3:28-30)
But the final step for Neb is to not just recognize and praise God, but to submit to him as the one and only Lord of the earth, and to acknowledge that all of Neb’s power, glory, and majesty is given to him by Yahweh. In a remarkable story in chapter 4, Neb boasts in himself and is reduced to an animal-like state until he fully and absolutely acknowledges Yahweh as Lord. This happens, and when he submits himself to God, he blesses, praises, and honors him, and acknowledges that it is Yahweh’s kingdom, not his own, which is forever, and that it is Yahweh who governs the course of history. He recognizes what Daniel told him back in chapter 2: “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.” Nebuchadnezzar finally gets it.
This is the duty of kings, presidents, emperors, and dictators today, as in all of history. This is not an optional add-on to earthly kingdoms, it’s a requirement. And since all authority has been given to Jesus Christ, since it is Jesus Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it is the duty of all nations to submit to Jesus. As it says in Psalm 2, “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers 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, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” This happened in Babylon – though it was short lived. It happened in the Roman Empire. It can, should, and will happen to all kingdoms one day.
God’s plan is not to have only one kingdom on earth, or to have a spiritual kingdom apart from the earth, but for his glory, his dominion, his kingdom to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
It is the duty of all the kings of the earth to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to govern in keeping with his justice and mercy.
Scott Limkeman