“Your kingdom come.” Matthew 6:10
In this marvelous prayer, our Lord speaks of a kingdom, and a kingdom means that there is a king. So, the first thing we learn in this second petition is that God is a great and glorious King.
Today, most kings or queens have a largely symbolic and ceremonial role. But in biblical times, all power and authority lay in the hands of the king. Beyond his kingdom, other kings would reign, but within his own kingdom, a king reigned supreme.
The Bible confronts us with the truth that God is the great and glorious King not only over a few people but over the whole earth: “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth” (Psa. 47:6-7). There is no corner of the earth that is not under God’s control. There is no neighboring kingdom where God does not rule.
There are other powers, other authorities, other kings, other gods who do not recognize the Lord’s rule, but God is sovereign even over them: “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (Psa. 95:3).
God is not only a great King, He is a glorious King, and His people long for the day when we will see Him. “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in… Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!” (Psa. 24:7, 10).
How does God’s sovereign authority impact the way you look at politics and world events? How does it impact the way you live?
