Advent Words: K is for Kingdom

K is for Kingdom

"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:32-33

"But about the Son he says,“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." Hebrews 1:8

Throughout the pages of the Old Testament are woven the promise of a king who would come and rule in justice, righteousness and mercy. He would be a Redeemer King who would rescue God's people and bring them promised salvation. 

The promise of the coming king would first be made to David, that this king would come from his descendants: 
"He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." 2 Samuel 7:13-14, 16

The prophet Isaiah continued to proclaim God's promise of a king:
"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this."
Isaiah 9:6-7

The arrival of the Messiah inaugurates the reign of the promised king. In the gospels, and especially Luke's gospel, the use of the term the "kingdom of God" is frequent throughout the book. The kingdom of God is used to refer to God's rule and reign, and more specifically in the gospels, to God's reign in the hearts of men. 

Let's take a brief look at what Luke tells us about the kingdom of God:

We are told in the very beginning, with the angel's proclamation of the arrival of God's Son, that the Son "will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:33

Jesus spent his life on earth preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. Luke 4:43, 8:1, 9:11, 6:16.

To the poor He promised they would possess the kingdom. Luke 6:20

To the disciples He revealed the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom. Luke 8:10

He sent the Apostles out to preach the kingdom and show the kingdom's power with healing. 9

Luke 9:2, 9:60.

Jesus proclaimed the kingdom was here now, yet was also coming in the future. Luke 10:11, 11:20, 17:20-21, 21:31.

He called His followers to seek God's kingdom first, before all else. Luke 12:31

He proclaimed that the kingdom belonged to children and to those who were childlike in receiving it: Sincere, open, fully trusting and completely dependent on God. Luke 18:16-17

Jesus proclaimed that God is pleased to give His followers the kingdom.

Blessed are we, whose God is the Lord, for we have a righteous, just and merciful King, who has brought us into the the kingdom of God!

Into our hopes, into our fears
The Savior of the world appears
The promise of eternal years
Christ the Messiah

He shall reign
Forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign
Forevermore, forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign
Forevermore, forevermore
He Shall Reign Forevermore by Chris Tomlin

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If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

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Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/