King of Righteousness, King of Peace

Hebrews 6:19-7:2 - We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.


Leviticus 16:2 - The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died, and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

Isaiah 9:6-7 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 - “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Application:

· The word for atonement cover, which is the ark of the covenant’s cover with the mercy seat upon it, is the same word used for Christ.
· He is the Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace
· Christ will rule in righteousness forever. God will not abandon His people
· My King does what is just and right
· God rescues His people from danger—including the danger to which their own sin has subjected them

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Pray For The Well-Being Of The King And His Sons

Ezra 5:16-6:10 - “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.” Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter. King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives stored in the treasury at Babylon. A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it: Memorandum: In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide, with three courses of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury. Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; they are to be deposited in the house of God. Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.


1 Timothy 2:1-2 - I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Application:

· Do I pray for the well-being of those in authority over me? (president, congressional representatives, state representatives, governors, mayors, bosses, councilmen, church leaders, parents, etc.)

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

The Lord Will Be King Over The Whole Earth

Zechariah 14:9 - The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.


Psalm 22:27-28 - All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

Obadiah 21 - Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD’s.

Habakkuk 2:14 - For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Application:

· There is one Lord and His name is the only name
· The rule of God is universal
· The kingdom will be the Lord’s
· The knowledge of the glory of the Lord fills the earth

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Whose King Was A Servant

Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 - Woe to you, O land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed are you, O land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks. A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Hosea 7:7 - All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.

Proverbs 31:4-5 - "It is not for kings, O Lemuel—not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Exodus 22:28 - "Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

Application:

· Do I call on the Lord to keep me away from shameful situations?
· Do I forget what God's Word decrees?
· Do I curse my rulers, God's representatives?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conscious Of God

1 Peter 2:13-14,17-19 - Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right…Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Proverbs 24:21-22 - Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Conclusions:

• Brotherly love is love within the family of God
• Only a mind renewed by the Holy Spirit could possibly honor others above themselves
• Submission to civil authority is commanded
• To obey God is to fear Him and honor our king
• The king is a terror to the wicked
• Authority established among men depends on God for its existence
• Indirectly, when one disobeys a human ruler he disobeys God, who ordained the system of human government
• When Peter wrote, the emperor was the godless, brutal Nero, who ruled from A.D. 54 to 68
• Of course, obedience to the emperor must never be in violation of the law of God

Application:

• Are you devoted to others within the family of God? Do you honor others above yourself?
• Do you fear the Lord and those who rule over you?
• Do you submit yourself to every authority instituted among men?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible