Why We Should Worship the King

During our family Bible time recently, one of my sons requested for us to sing, “O Worship the King.” Anyone who knows me well knows that one of my passions is both trying to “sing with the understanding” as Paul instructs and encouraging others to do so (1 Corinthians 14:15). I had therefore already planned on discussing some of the archaic language in this hymn with my kiddos before we started singing but was especially sure to do so after I noticed that my other son was flipping pages in his song book because he already had the words memorized (which was all at once both good and bad). As we discussed the words, I was struck by the powerful descriptive terms applied by the hymnwriter to Jesus and how relevant they are today.

Jesus is of course first identified in the hymn as “the King.” Though some deny the reality of Jesus’ present kingdom, Jesus now has “all authority […] in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He is now sitting on “the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32; Revelation 3:21). Jesus has everything that you would expect a monarch to have: a territory (heaven and earth), a law (“the law of Christ” [Galatians 6:2]), and citizens (those “conveyed […] into the kingdom” whose “citizenship is in heaven” [Colossians 1:13; Philippians 3:20]). Since Jesus is both the King and God’s son, He deserves worship (Psalm 2:10-12). However, the hymn’s further descriptions demonstrate that this is not the only reason Jesus should be worshipped.

Jesus is next identified as “Our Shield and Defender.” One of the sadder trends in the United States over the past couple of years has been the “No Kings” rallies. I’ve often thought that if the people who attended these rallies really understood what life was like under an actual despotic monarchy or some other form of truly authoritarian government, they’d be grateful instead of protesting (in fact, they almost certainly would not be allowed to protest!). This isn’t what makes these rallies sad though; it’s sad that these people don’t know what it’s like to have a King who uses His power to serve as a Shield and Defender. Jesus might have all authority, but it’s incredible to think that He “always lives to make intercession” for His kingdom’s citizens (Hebrews 7:25).

I had to really pause when I came to the next description in the hymn, “the Ancient of Days.” The description is found in Daniel 7 and seems to refer to God the Father, as the Ancient of Days is the one who gives “One like the Son of Man” His kingdom in a prophetic vision that was fulfilled when Jesus ascended into Heaven to begin ruling over His kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14). Did the author of the song misinterpret the text, or was He joining Biblical authors in applying descriptive terms that reference the Father to Jesus? Isaiah for example even used the term “Everlasting Father” to describe Jesus (Isaiah 9:6-7). While Jesus is unique in personhood from the Father, He shares His attributes. In fact, Daniel’s vision pictures the Ancient of Days with a “garment […] white as snow” and “hair […] like pure wool,” and both descriptions are later used of Jesus (Matthew 28:3; Revelation 1:14). In Jesus “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

After discussing the “bountiful care” and tender mercies of Jesus, the hymn concludes with a salvo of descriptions that powerfully reinforce what the previous descriptions establish. Jesus is “Our Maker,” for He was the One by whom, “All things were made” (John 1:3; cf. Colossians 1:16). However, Jesus is not the god of Deism, the watchmaker god who started creation and left it alone; He is our “Defender” as the hymn previously says. To what extent would Jesus go to defend us? He can be called our “Redeemer” because He was willing to pay our earned “wages of sin,” i.e., “death” (Romans 6:23) and purchase us “with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). And yet, in spite of all we owe Him, He was and is willing to call us “friends” (John 15:14-15) so that we too can call Him “Friend.”

While I don’t want to belittle the political concerns of those who cry “No Kings,” my hope for both them and everyone else is that they would give themselves the chance to discover the “King of Kings,” Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:15). One day they will “confess that” this King “is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). It would be far better before then if they could “Worship the King,” knowing Him as “the Ancient of Days” who is not only their “Maker” but also their “Shield,” “Defender,” “Redeemer,” and “Friend.”           

-Patrick Swayne  
patrick@tftw.org