“All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD,” Psalm 138:4-5.
We sang the metrical version of this psalm in the morning prayer meeting last Lord’s Day. The above appears in this form in the metrical version.
All kings upon the earth that are
shall give thee praise, O Lord,
When as they from thy mouth shall hear
thy true and faithful word.
Yea, in the righteous ways of God
with gladness they shall sing:
For great’s the glory of the Lord;
who doth for ever reign.
As I joined in the singing, I was thrilled to note yet again in God’s Word, a reference to a wonderful future time when the present attitude of men, royal or otherwise, will be very different indeed.
I acknowledge that my eye seems to ‘home in’ on such references in the Bible whenever I am reading it. Often times it is to see the significance of the reference for the first time but at other times it is to peruse again with joy a familiar portion.
That there is a coming ‘golden age’ has ever been in the minds of men. It originated with the Greeks. The term ‘golden age’ comes from ancient Greek mythology and refers to a mythical time when all people lived in peace, prosperity, and happiness without having to work. Men have long looked for a re-birth of such a time.
THE BIBLE
Though Greek philosophers are credited with such a notion, in truth it is from the Bible that the hope of such an age is born! The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time on the earth when men “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more,” Isaiah 2:4.
He speaks again of this wonderful time in chapter 11:6-9.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
Though mankind has lost its contact with the Word of God, as once the nations knew it in ages past, it has retained something of this longed for dream of an age utterly in contrast with the present turbulence, misery and death!
To the child of God, the believing student of the Word of God, is granted an extensive revelation of the ‘Golden Age’ God has promised to bring about.
Our text speaks of this time and please note the following simple points in these verses.
I. WHAT IT IS WILL BRING IN THIS AGE
“All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.” Note especially the words, ‘when they hear the words of thy mouth.’
1. God’s Golden Age is born from God’s Word. Just as it was with the whole of creation, so it will be with the ‘golden age’. This age is the ‘millennial reign of Christ. It is that time spoken of in Revelation 20:4-6.“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
This is a time when, as we have already quoted from Isaiah 11:9, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” The knowledge of the Lord is something born of the Word of God. Man cannot know anything until he comes under the power of God’s Holy Word. Peter told converts in his day that they had been “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you, 1 Peter 1:23-25.
As regeneration comes about in today’s converts’ and they are put into Christ and they become new creatures and “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17, so it will be in the age that follows Christ’s return. That time was spoken of by Peter. He said of Christ that “the heaven must receive (Him) until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began,” Acts 3:21.
The word ‘restitution’ refers to a blessed time which God will bring in and there will be a restoring, to a very large degree, and that for a thousand year period, that which was lost through Adam’s disobedience.
It is not the ultimate and eternal age when there will be an utter overthrowing of sin and the initiating of that glorious new creation which “we, according to his promise, look for” and “wherein dwelleth righteousness,” 2 Peter 3:13.
2. It is very evidently a happy age. “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD.” It is a time of singing and that of songs of the purest nature. It is a singing of songs of praise to the Lord. Far from seeing the Lord as someone to deny, blaspheme, curse and mock, as is ever growing more common in these last days, the Lord will be seen as One to praise.
That indicates that men’s eyes have been opened to see and know the true and wonderful character of God, and seeing such men burst into song. That has ever been the case resulting from opened eyes!
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered,” Psalm 40:1-5.
Here is a new song born of a new understanding and vision of the Lord and His glory. So it will be in the day spoken of in our text.
I might say that the very earth will sing, or at least cease its groaning and death pangs. “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” Romans 8:21-22.
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD,” Isaiah 65:25.
3. It will see converted those out of whose ranks few were ever saved before. Here are ‘kings’ singing praises unto God. In this age, few kings are converted. So said the inspired apostle Paul.
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence,” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
Kings have ever been prayed for. This the Lord commanded.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour,” 1 Timothy 2:1-3.
But I believe that it may be clearly seen in the shameful antics of ‘royalty’ throughout the ages, that very few gave heed to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, irrespective of the ‘official’ positions they occupied here in the United Kingdom, that of titular head of the Church of England and the many oaths of allegiance sworn to the Reformed Faith, over the centuries since the Reformation.
That will change when Jesus comes and sets up His kingdom as proclaimed in those wonderful words: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:15.
II. PLEASE NOTE THE EXTENSIVENESS OF THE SAVIOUR’S RULE
1. The little word ‘all’ is so important. “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD.” At the present it is a case of ‘very few at best’ or ‘none at all’ of kings who truly praise the Lord, but then it will be ‘all the kings of the earth’ who respond to the power of the gospel.
2. The Millennial Reign of Christ will indeed be a ‘Golden Age’, when multitudes will seek the Lord. Jews will be saved, that nation presently under the judgment of God.
“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever,” Ezekiel 37:21-25.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; after that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid,” Ezekiel 39:25-26.
The converted Jews will become the messengers of God’s mercy to the nations of the world. “Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. . . . . Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness,” Zechariah 8:3-4, 7-8.
“Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age,” Zechariah 8:3-4.
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you,” Zechariah 8:23.
The saints of God, raised from the grave at the Saviour’s return and glorified along with those that were alive at His return, will be with the Lord as He reigns in Jerusalem. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven,” Matthew 22:29-30. The glorified saints shall have a role similar to, but I believe even more wonderful, than do the angels now!
3. Of course the old ‘troubler’ of mankind will be under lock and key and utterly unable to carry on as before in his deceitfulness. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season,” Revelation 20:1-3.
The devil’s imprisonment greatly advances peace amongst the nations whom before he agitated, provoked and beguiled into sin and rebellion.
III. THE GLORY OF THE LORD WILL FILL THE EARTH
1. What Moses was privileged to see but partially, all shall see. “And he (Moses) said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he (the Lord) said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen,” Exodus 33:18-23.
During the Saviour’s reign “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea,” Habakkuk 2:14. What was seen over the tabernacle and later for a time in the temple in Jerusalem and was revealed only to the people of Israel and that on but a few occasions, will be seen by all on the earth. “And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people,” Leviticus 9:23.
Note that the prophet Habakkuk indicates that there will be a universality about the appearance of God’s glory in the earth. It would cover the earth as “the waters cover the sea”!
Men shall see the Lord as only Peter, James and John were privileged to see on the mount. “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light,” Matthew 17:1-2. What was seen ONLY by those apostles will be seen by ALL during the Millennial Reign of our Saviour.
2. The impact upon Moses of seeing only a little of the Lord’s glory, gives us some understanding of the impact of this glorious revelation during the Saviour’s reign on earth. “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him,” Exodus 34:29-30.
Moses reflected something of the glory of the Holy One he had seen. How much more wonderful will be the result of the whole earth seeing the glory of the Lord? It is to be noted that Moses’ shining face engendered fear amongst the people. That will not be so when an even more wonderful shining forth of God’s glory will take place. Grace will have changed multitudes of men and as such, they will rejoice in the revelation of the glory of the Redeemer, rather than fear and tremble!
3. The awe and fear manifested by the people of Israel at the sight of Moses, is but a foreshadowing of the impact upon those inhabitants of the earth who remain unconverted during the Millennial Reign. The Israelites had but a short time before they felt the power of God’s wrath for their sin. “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men, . . . . And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made,” Exodus 32:26-28, 35.
It is little wonder that the people fear the sight of God’s glory shining on the face of Moses! The sight of the infinitely more glorious face of Christ will fill those on the earth during His reign with greater fear and bring them to subservience.
Heed the words of the psalmist.
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him,” Psalm 2:1-12.
At the beginning of this psalm 2, we have the spirit of rebellion raging amongst men just prior to the Saviour’s return. I believe we see that final rebellion arising amongst the nations of men at the present time with the fanatical embracing of every foul perversion ever known to man. That section of the psalm is then followed by a revelation of Heaven’s response to man’s ‘fist-shaking’ in God’s face. “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” That is how the wicked will be dealt with at the return of Christ.
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day,” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.
SUBJUGATION
Then again, in psalm 2 there is a clear view of the subjugation of Christ’s enemies when He takes up the governance of this world. The Father says to the Son, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
The response that men should have on that day ends the psalm. “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
Zechariah writes of that time. “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. . . . And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem (under the leadership of Antichrist, who by this time is in the lake of fire, Revelation 19:20) shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles,” Zechariah 14:9, 16-19.
This has been but a very scant presentation of the Bible’s revelation of the glorious time that lies ahead for this world, especially for those who believe in the Lord Jesus and have received Him as their Saviour.
Please consider God’s Word on this subject and recognise that the signs of the approach of that great and glorious time are daily before us!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
11th July 2023