Long Live the King

A monarch is like a fixed star, the North Star. In some strange way, we navigate and orientate our lives around them. They symbolise law and order and reflect the values, culture and history of the society over which they reign.

A monarch also represents and symbolises the procession of power and so throughout history we have looked to them for wisdom, justice, honour and courage in times of war.

Some may say that they reject the idea of monarchy, or that they’re indifferent to it. Never-the-less, they long for one and they have one. For the concept of a monarchy is inescapable.

Above all our choices, preferences and desire sits a final authority: a fixed star by which we navigate our lives. We may not even be conscious of it, but someone or something sits enthroned above our hearts. It might be a pope, a president, a queen, or even some celebrity. But there they are.

This helps explain our grief and perhaps even a feeling of disorientation at the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It also helps explain why the United States, for example, began using the term, “first lady”, within 100 years of displacing the British monarchy over North America in their war of independence. Or why some kids have pictures of Lady Gaga tattoed on their bums. We need a monarch. Symbols matter.

Our military parades, our cultures’ pride marches, our football stadiums and our rallies represent the same phenomena. Not only do we need a monarch, and not only do we have a monarchy, we have the subsequent need to publicly elevate and parade the power of that monarchy down the street.

Because this is the way the world operates, we cannot tolerate an empty chair. The throne, whether it be a football club, a king, a queen, a president or a government, must remain fixed, eternal and over all. The players may change but the throne remains in place.

This is why, when one of our monarchs die or wander off stage, we quickly replace them – lest we fall into chaos, discord, upheaval and even war.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us”.

…And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:1, 4)

It is this way because God has made the world this way. All of our processions, coronations, celebrity dance parties and elections, reveal our deep need to have someone reign over us.

The question is not whether, but which monarch we will have.

As Christians, therefore, we ought not despise monarchy. Instead, though often a poor reflection of the gospel, and frequently an anti-gospel, we understand that the institution itself is something God has ordained for our good. Something built into the world by God and made for our joy and our rest.

The late Queen Elizabeth II delighted to be among her people and once said in response to her busy social calendar, “I have to be seen to be believed”. This statement is true.

And so God sent His Son into the world. Jesus was, by the will of God, born King (Matthew 2:2). Were He born today, instead of 2000 years ago in the days of the Roman Empire, he would not have been our president, or our pope, or our popstar. He would still have been born our King.

Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty …great in power; justice and abundant righteousness… (Job 37:22-23)

His government is the government all other governments wish they could be. His reign is the reign all other contenders to the throne wish they could possess. His law is the law that all other lawmakers wish they could replace. His glory is the glory all other pretenders are trying to imitate.

You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north. (Isaiah 14:13)

Jesus, born a man, born King, born to rule and reign over all the Earth, is the King who did not perish but who rose from the dead. He is the fixed star under which we find refuge and strength, and by which we are to orientate our lives in this world. He is unchanging, unshaken and His Kingdom cannot be displaced.

“Come”, says Jesus, “all ye who are burdened and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.