To say that God is king is to affirm that God is sovereign. Webster’s defines “sovereign” as “above or superior to all others; chief greatest, supreme.” If God is a King, we must understand the scope of his kingdom. The Bible answers, “Our God is in heaven, he does whatever he chooses” (Ps 115:3; 135:6). “How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth” (Ps 47:2). “…His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” (Dan 4:34-35).

Throughout Scripture God’s reign is depicted as universal or total. It is over all his creatures in heaven and on earth: great and small, angels and men, lions and lambs, Satan and demons. This rule of God is not merely general but specific, including in its scope all his creatures and all their activities, from the falling of the sparrow to the decisions of a king, to the evil activities of the prince of darkness (Matt 10:29; Prov 21:1; John 19:11; Job 1:8-12; cf 1 Chr 21:1 with 2 Sam 24:1). God is in ultimate control of life & death (Deut 32:39; Rev 1:17-18), health & sickness (1 Sam 2:6-7; John 9:1-3; 2 Cor 12:7-9), wealth & poverty (1 Chr 29:11-12; Is 45:7; Hag 2:8). Yet his decisions are never arbitrary or malicious. He is loving and kind, willing far sooner and more often to exalt his grace than his judgment (Ex 20:4-6; Ez 18:23; 2 Pet 3:9). God is not like a volcano, or “the perfect storm” –uncontrollable forces which overcome everything in their course. Though God is an absolute, eternal & unchanging King, his rule is based on a perfect goodness, wisdom, love & justice, which, while permitting wrong, does no wrong (Gen 18:25; Jms 1:13).

Since God is King our relation to him is forever that of inferiority (Is 40:25-28) and dependence (Ps 145:15-16). It is insanity to rebel against him and want to rule ourselves or make a name for ourselves that rivals his (Ps 10:4; 12:4; Gen 11:4).Or to depend on creatures and things rather than on the Creator (Ps 20:7). Since God is King, the ultimate reason for all events is known (Matt 11:25-26). God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Eph 1:11b). Therefore we should not complain, but rather be optimistic and full of praise as we declare him Lord of our money, time, speech–our all.

On earth all types of people rule: harsh & gentle, evil & kind. No one in their right mind, given the opportunity to choose, would select for a leader a Hitler over a Mandela or a Hussein over a Lincoln. People want a fair, wise patient & kind leader. Jesus came, not only to die as our Savior but to be raised & enthroned as our King. When he returns all creation will sing, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns” (Rev 19:6). The wise now surrender to him, for all will bow ultimately before him and confess that he is Lord (Phil 2:10-11). The foolish cling to the god of their own freedom, not knowing that “when the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).