No matter how personally wealthy a king is, no earthly ruler provides for his people. Rather, every earthly king seeks provision from his people through taxation. Political rulers don’t give to their people; they take. [And by saying that, I am not suggesting that the “taking” through taxation is wrong — it isn’t, as Rom. 13:7 affirms (see also Mt. 22:15-22).]
That makes the kingship of God and His Son, the promised Messiah, so very different than every other king. The King of Heaven doesn’t take; He gives. He gives to His people because He is not only the King of His people, but He is also their Father (Mt. 6:9), and He gives to His people with the kind of generosity that only an infinite Father has. What does He give His people?
- The Father and King of Heaven gives His people their daily sustenance and needs:
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matt. 7:11)
- The Father and King of Heaven gives His people family fellowship; He is no longer our enemy but our Father:
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.…The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Rom. 5:10; 8:16)
- The Father and King of Heaven gives His people access to Him and His throne:
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
- The Father and King of Heaven gives His people fellowship and His presence:
“A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.” (Ps. 68:5–6)
- The Father and King of Heaven gives His people knowledge, wisdom, and instruction:
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.…But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 14:26; 16:13–15)
- The Father and King of Heaven gives His people victory over their great enemy:
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Rom. 16:20)
- The Father and King of Heaven gives His people an eternal inheritance in Glory (He will never disinherit His children):
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Rom. 8:28–30)
The King of Heaven is unique among all Kings because He is a Giver. As King, He sustains His people and is not sustained by or dependent on His people for everything. This makes our King — the King of Heaven — the great King.
Photo by Filip Baotić on Unsplash.
Words of Grace 