FUNCTIONING AS A KING - PART 2

MONDAY 07 AUGUST 2023

Although today's article follows in the pattern of part one of this topic, there is something important I want us to grasp. King David's life was well pleasing to God and there was so much evidence to this truth. Let's find out more!

Reference: Psalm 21:1 New Living Translation (NLT) "How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory."

Our referenced Scripture is the first verse of Psalm 21, which implies that God is gracious to King David, and therefore the king is glad by the strength of His enabling grace. And in light of His salvation and victories which the king has experienced, he is singing and shouting for joy. Furthermore, in line with my sunesis, kindly pay attention to the rest of the verses, which is recorded as Psalm 21:2-5 (NIV), to grasp their underlying significances in parentheses.

Verse 2: You have granted him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips (Priestly function with guaranteed answers to prayers).

Verse 3: You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head (Divine visitation).

Verse 4: He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever (Longevity).

Verse 5: Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty (Honour and prestige).

Verse 6: Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence (Boundless benefits of divine presence).

Verse 7: For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken (Confidence and assured rest of mind).

We have a lot to gain, as we consider each of these verses, in relation to how God deals graciously with us, bearing in mind that we've been made kings and priests unto Him, the Almighty Father (Revelation 1:6 NKJV).

Starting with verse 2: You have granted him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips (Priestly function with guaranteed answers to prayers). We have an unconditional right to answered prayers, because as Christians, we've been set apart to God as holy nation and royal priests in Christ (1st Peter 2:9 NIV). Hence, our role as priests in Christ is different from standing as mediator between God and other people (1st Peter 2:5 NLT), as it was in the old covenant according to Hebrews 5:1-4 (NIV), meaning that we are new priesthood with new and rewarding roles. Hallelujah!

Every born again Christian is God's priest after the order of our great high priest, Jesus Christ, not after the order of Aaron and the rest of his tribe, the Levites. To that effect, the book of Hebrews noted that Jesus is our great high priest who has ascended into heaven. In a nutshell, Hebrews 5:6-10 reads, "And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek" (NIV).

In a similar manner, our Christian lives as priests are designed to offer up holy and spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving, praise and worship to Almighty God (Romans 12:1 NIV). More so, other roles as priests entail interceding for others, giving to those in need and ministering the Word to the lost. That's how to show others the goodness of God according to 1 Peter 2:9, the (NLT) version. In doing so, God grants us the desires of our hearts and does not withhold the request of our lips, just like David's psalmodic inspiration penned, as well as Jesus whose prayers and petitions were all heard because of His reverent submission to God (signifying our right to answered prayers).

Stay tuned for part 3, to gain access to the exposition of the next versified statement (verse 3). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Exodus 19:6; Psalm 110:4; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Hebrews 11:7; Titus 2:14.

Exuberant Declaration: I am a certified royal priest unto God, and my priestly functions come with guaranteed answers to my prayers. Blessed be God!