Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Tonight’s Study, Session 17: Jehovah Melek– God is King

Introduction: The Israelites believed that Jehovah 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. Jehovah Melek is 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.

The title Jehovah Melek first appears in Psalm 24:7.

Scriptural Context Where Jehovah Melek is Found

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:1-10)

Understanding the Name

Compared to surrounding nations, the Israelites were relatively late in adopting a monarchy as a form of government. Instead, they thought of Jehovah as their Melek (King). Once the monarchy was established, it was understood that the king received his power from God and was therefore responsible for ruling according to God’s laws. David, Israel’s second king, represented the ideal of how a king should rule.

But most of the kings of Israel and Judah fell far short of the ideal, leading people away from God by forging ill-fated alliances with foreign powers and by sanctioning the worship of false gods. After years of living under the rule of these less-than-perfect kings, God’s people longed for a Melek – a descendant of David who would sit on Israel’s throne, subdue its enemies, and then rule over the entire earth. Given these expectations, it is hardly surprising that even Jesus’ disciples thought He would establish an earthly kingdom.

Connecting To The Name In Psalm 72

Psalm 72 is a coronation prayer for one of the Davidic kings, namely Solomon. Though it doesn’t directly refer to God as king, it does reflect the values of our heavenly King.

Psalm 72 Outline

I.A Just Reign (72:1-4)

Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.

II.A Universal Reign (72:5-11)

They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him.

III.A Compassionate Reign (72:12-14)

For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.

IV.A Prosperous Reign (72:15-17)

And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised. There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.

V.A Glorious Reign (72:18-20)

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

The world would be much different if today’s rulers reflected the values expressed in Psalm 72. This will ultimately be fulfilled by Jesus during His 1000-year Millennial reign on earth.

Jesus is Jehovah Melek

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.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

The world has never seen a king like Jesus Christ, a ruler mightier than any earthly sovereign and more powerful than the unseen powers of the universe. Though He entered the world humbly, as an infant born in Bethlehem, Magi from the east still recognized Him as the newborn king.

Having Jesus as our Jehovah Melek means that He is our King, which means that we as Christians are His servants, subject to His rule. Lordship salvation exalts Christ as Head of His church and the church acknowledges Jesus as their One True King. The church’s ultimate allegiance is to Christ, and Christ alone.

Revelation 19

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

For the believer in Jesus Christ, knowing Jehovah Melek as our King, leaves no allowance for a self–ruled life. We must surrender fully to Christ as our King and take our place as His humble servants. The Kingdom of God can have only one king. We should eagerly anticipate the coming reign of the King of Kings. Now is not the time to become complacent, living as if the world is all there is. But it is the time to prepare for the soon coming King of Glory!

When the King Speaks, We would be Wise to Listen

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:25-29)

Conclusion: As Christians, knowing Jehovah Melek – God is King, gives us hope amidst the troubled world in which we live. Even though we live in a troubled world, and it is sometimes difficult to reconcile God’s kingship with the difficulties and tragedies that can be seen across the globe, we trust in our King who rules supreme. Knowing that Jesus, our King of kings, reigns over the universe and in our hearts, gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding and leads us to love and serve Him all the more while we wait for His return to rule and reign in His kingdom on earth one day.

Next Week, Session 18: Jehovah Shophet – God is Judge