The Netflix series, The Crown, follows the rise of Queen Elizabeth II from her childhood when her father’s brother abdicated the throne of England, to her accession to the throne at the ripe, young age of 26! The series highlights the turmoil of the royal family and sheds light on the ever-changing role of the monarchy in England during the 20th century. We Americans have substituted celebrities and politicians in place of a royal family. The power wielded by the celebrity culture we live in and the power the monarchy exercises are very similar.
The 45th Psalm was written to celebrate the wedding of the King of Israel. Perhaps it was written to celebrate the marriage of David and Bathsheba. There is no way to determine the original occasion with certainty. What we can learn from the effusive language of the writer, however, is how important the king’s role was for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
God is and always has been king. As the people of God settled in the land promised to Abraham, they began to agitate for a human king – one who could lead God’s people in battle against enemies. David was not the first king of Israel, nor was he the son of the king. Rather, David was God’s choice for king of Israel. David’s flaws appear prominently in the Old Testament accounts of his reign.
The psalmist here focuses not on the flaws but on God’s promises. God promised David that a unique descendant would be born who would be nothing less than God-in-the-flesh, One who would rule eternally – not just the geographical region of Israel but the entire world (see 2 Samuel 7 for the details).
As we read these words are eyes are to be drawn not to any earthly monarch. We are to see in the celebratory words of the psalmist a picture of God’s ultimate triumph over the principalities and powers of evil that threaten to destroy us. With the psalmist we are to lift our voices in confident praise, knowing that our God has a plan and that our God will not be stopped.
WINSTON COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 