The King and His People Rev. Joby Fowler

A call to a simple life, and a simple trust in the Lord. We are far too concerned in this age of ever increasing "hey, I'm over here" living in the church with the worlds acknowledgement that I exist and I am special. You're not special, well not for the reasons the world would list, and thats ok. Because you are seeking to play the worlds game of glory and fame you will quickly find yourself also cowing to her unholy shibboleths that are necessary to be a member of the "in crowd." Don't do it. Don't play the worlds game, its a lose-lose scenario.

The Kingdom of Christ has not only a mission plan, but it also possesses an objective that can be measured and celebrated in this life, even before the coming of Christ Jesus, and is in fact the means of bringing Christ's kingdom on earth as it in heaven. What do I mean by that? The growth and expansion of the Lordship of Christ over every part of life. You have a life and calling given to you by the Lord, let's sing about it and let's get to work for the King, for the saints, and for the world.

God made man with an innate desire to feel useful, to feel as though their lives count for something, that they are engaging in actions that count for eternity. In addition to the central benefits of being union with the Godhead, being salvation and eternal security, is the benefit of having a redeemed and glorious purpose that is of greater weight and value when embraced by faith for the glory of our Lord. The saints who give their full hearts to God find not only delight in the exercise of dwelling in His presence, but understand that through the corporate, public, and audible worship of the Lord by the saints the glory of the True King men great and small will come to worship and adore Him.

This song reflects a time, not unlike current times, when the Lord did something glorious for Israel, when we restored their fortunes. It is a lament that focuses on a time in the past occasion of deliverance, incorporated to inform a plea for the Lord to do it again. And oh how the Lord has worked in times past, and how that work informs, sustains and grants us hope in the labor of sowing, unto the end of reaping the harvest. Throughout history God has taken the church through moments of sorrow and also laughter, both parts of laboring for the coming of His kingdom. What is sown in tears, the fight for the future and glory of the kingdom, will result in a harvest of joy and laughter.

Connected to Psalm 124, is the theme of obedience and submission to the will of God. If unbelief is willful disobedience, that is the rejection of truth for a lie, suppressing and exchanging God's revelation for the illusions of man-made doctrine and ideas then it would follow that men are sinners and know it. Because men are built upon only two systems for life, there is conflict - conflict between those who are in Christ and those who are in Adam. Those who worship the Lord, whose who honor the Lord, in order to be faithful must fear God more than men, and see that there is peace with the Lord.

The conflict that we are engaged in, as church, is as spiritual one, waged in the heavenly places though manifested on earth between ultimately two families, the kingdom of light and that of darkness, between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. The psalmists would have us remember this reality, that the church's survival, her hope and future are built upon the gracious favor of God. Without it we would be overwhelmed by the schemes of the evil one and those who follow him. God has delivered us, because He loves us and the great testimony of Divine affection is the Redeemer, Jesus Christ.