The Lord is King Forever

By Dean Collins

Several years ago I was invited to bring a word of greeting at a countywide Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration. I was grateful for the invitation and humbled by the opportunity.

A few days before the event, I gathered with a couple of trusted colleagues to think through what I should say. I knew I was not the featured speaker, but I also knew that simply saying, “I’m glad you’re here,” would not be enough. We talked about Dr. King’s remarkable legacy, and one observation stood out. On more than one occasion, Dr. King reminded his audiences that he was not a politician—he was a preacher. His public addresses were rooted in biblical truth.

That conversation led me to a larger question.

Our nation has developed an extraordinary expectation that politicians will solve our deepest problems. I understand the God-given role of government, and I am grateful for good public servants. But I find it striking that even many Christians often speak as though politics is the primary answer to poverty, injustice, violence, health care, economic inequality, racial division, and the overall well-being of society.

These problems are real. They deserve serious attention. We need wisdom, compassion, and good leadership.

But where should we first look for help?

Psalm 10 begins with the assumption that evil and injustice ultimately belong to God’s jurisdiction. The psalmist cries out,

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”

That is an honest prayer. It is the question believers have asked in every generation. Where is God when evil seems to prosper?

The psalmist then catalogs the wickedness he sees around him. We should do the same. We ought to be honest about the brokenness of our world. Some days it feels as though evil has free rein.

Yet the psalmist refuses to remain trapped in despair. Instead, he prays,

“Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.”

He moves from lament to confidence, concluding,

“The Lord is king forever and ever… O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart.”

Several centuries later, God answered those prayers in the most dramatic way imaginable. He sent His Son.

Jesus stepped into a world filled with injustice, oppression, violence, and spiritual darkness. Yet His strategy for changing the world was surprising. Rather than placing His hope in political power, He called ordinary men and women into His Kingdom.

Then He said to them,

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers… Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

Jesus never promised His followers an easy assignment. Running with wolves is not for the faint of heart.

Yet this remains God’s plan.

He sends His Son. His Son calls disciples. He fills them with His Spirit. Then He sends them into the world to become agents of His Kingdom—bringing peace where there is conflict, justice where there is oppression, hope where there is despair, and love wherever they go.

This does not diminish the importance of good government. But it reminds us that lasting transformation has always begun with transformed people.

The psalmist was right:

“The Lord is king forever and ever.”

We know how the story ends. Christ will one day make all things new.

Until then, the question is not merely who will occupy positions of earthly authority. The deeper question is whether we will recognize the authority of our true King. Will we place our ultimate hope in politicians, or will we listen to the voice of our Shepherd and join the prophets, preachers, and ordinary believers who have spent their lives bringing glimpses of God’s Kingdom to earth?

Prayer

Father, forgive us for placing our ultimate hope in human leaders rather than in You. Thank You for governments that restrain evil and promote the common good, but remind us that no person can ultimately heal the brokenness caused by sin.

Like the psalmist, we ask You to arise and act. Begin with us. Transform our hearts by Your Spirit, deepen our understanding of Your Kingdom, and send us into the world as faithful ambassadors of Christ.

May we bring peace, justice, mercy, and hope to the places You have called us until the day our King returns to make all things new.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 10:1-18, Luke 10:2-20 ESV

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