From Praying the Names of God Week Seventeen, Day Five
The Name
The Israelites believed that Yahweh was Melek, or King—not just over Israel but over every nation on earth. They understood that the temple in Jerusalem was the earthly symbol of God's heavenly throne, and they expected a coming Messiah who would one day save his people from their enemies, establishing his rule over the whole world.
The New Testament presents Jesus as the King of kings, whose perfect obedience ushered in the kingdom of heaven. For the last two thousand years, God's kingdom has continued to spread through every nation, tribe, people, and language, as men and women accept Christ's rule. When you pray to YahwehMelek, you are praying to the God who watches over the whole earth and who will one day come in glory to usher in an eternal kingdom of peace and righteousness.
Key Scripture
Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
He will judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness. (Psalm 72:1-3)
***
Friday
PROMISES ASSOCIATED WITH GOD'S NAME
Jesus promised his followers that they would inherit the kingdom of God, prepared for them since the beginning of time. Take a few moments to consider what your life would look like if you really believed that in just a few short years, you were going to inherit a kingdom, filled with everything your heart desired. This would be a place so marvelous that in it you would never be lonely, confused, or bored. A place so peaceful that you would always love and be loved, understand and be understood. Every need, every desire would be perfectly fulfilled.
Wouldn't this knowledge put things in an entirely different perspective? Would life be nearly as frantic? Would you expend so much energy stockpiling the goods of this world? Or would you find a new ease settling into your soul and a growing desire to get ready for the world to come by reflecting its values right here and right now?
Promises in Scripture
The LORD will be king over the whole earth.On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. (Zechariah 14:9)
The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matthew 13:43)
Then the King will say to those on his right,"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4)
Continued Prayer and Praise
Pray for the increase of God's government. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Worship the King of glory. (Psalm 24)
Approach the throne of grace with confidence. (Hebrews 4:16)
Envision the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1-5)
For more from Ann Spangler, please visit her blogspot on Christianity.com. And be sure to check out Ann's newest books on AnnSpangler.com. To hear more from Ann Spangler, sign up today at annspangler.substack.com.
Meet your spiritual ancestors as they really were: Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them.
