The Design of the Kingdom (1)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (2)

In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Psalm 45:4

As we saw in the previous series, Jesus Christ has been exalted to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father in glory, splendor, majesty, power, and might. Nowhere in Scripture is the reign of Christ more clearly portrayed than in the book of Psalms. We saw that New Testament writers – Paul, Peter, John, and the writer of Hebrews especially – as well as the Lord Jesus turned to the Psalms to point people’s minds to the rule of Christ, which is the Kingdom of God.

The Path to Glory (7)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (1)

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. Psalm 104:4

No idle King

It would be easy to get the impression that Jesus Christ, exalted in glory, has nothing else to do but bask in the admiring love of those who populate His throne room and temple.

That would only be half the story, however.

The Path to Glory (6)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (1)

The Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9

A temple full of glory

In the psalms the dwelling place of the Lord is frequently referred to as the “temple.” Sometimes this means the earthly temple, constructed in Jerusalem. Other times it refers to the temple in heaven, where Christ has taken His seat at the Father’s right hand and is carrying on the work of advancing His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The Path to Glory (5)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (1)

The LORD says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Psalm 110:1

The ascension of Christ

The doctrine of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the overlooked teachings of the Christian Church in our day. Having risen from the dead, Jesus was lifted up to heaven as the Apostles stood by, watching Him ascend (Acts 1:9). Luke leaves us, like the Apostles, looking into the heavens, staring at the cloud which took Jesus out of their sight, scratching our heads and wondering what happens next.

The Path to Glory (4)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (1)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Psalm 22:1

The mystery of revelation

The book of Psalms raises many questions about the inspiration of Holy Scripture. For example, many of the psalms seem to have a clear historical reference attached to them, as when David was fleeing from his son, Absalom (Ps. 3) or responding to a rebuke from the prophet Nathan (Ps. 51). We can enter into these historical situations by going to other Scriptures and understanding more of the background which gave rise to the psalm. And we can see how the Spirit must have moved on the psalmists, giving them inspired words for just that occasion.

The Path to Glory (3)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (1)

He is the radiance of the glory of God, and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3

Jesus is the Lord

One of the clear teachings of the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is the Lord. Peter proclaimed this on the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 2:36), and Paul insisted on it in Philippians 2:5-11 and elsewhere. Christians profess Jesus as Lord, but do we acknowledge Him to be the “Lord” Who is referred to over and over in the book of Psalms?