“Biblical theology is a means of looking at one particular event in relation to the total picture.”[1] – Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan
In biblical studies, there is a field called biblical theology. The goal of this discipline is to look at what the Bible says, throughout its pages and the stages of God’s revelation, about a given theme or truth, and then relate each of those passages back to the Bible’s revelation as a whole. For example, if one embarked upon a biblical-theological analysis of the theme of covenant, one would begin in Genesis 1 and God’s covenant with Adam and Eve. Then head to Genesis 12 and look at God’s covenant with Abraham. One would look from Genesis to Revelation and see the ways in which God’s covenants were given. Ultimately, one would find that the new covenant in Christ was the final, ultimate covenant, towards which all the previous covenants pointed.
And this is the approach I want to take regarding the Kingdom of God in this post and the next. We have seen previously how God consummated the Kingdom in and through His Son. We also saw that there is much metaphorical language in the Old Testament which speaks of royal, kingly themes. For example, the creation narrative in Genesis 1-2 speaks of God taking His royal throne as King of the universe, with the cosmos itself serving as His divine temple. Normally, we read the narrative as God working for six days and resting one, and yet we miss the larger, underlying concern: God’s rule and reign. God certainly gave humanity the work-week cycle and the gift of sabbath. But if we’re not careful we’ll miss the larger point: God taking His place on His throne and ruling.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…” – Isaiah 52:7
God was showing His people, and by extension the whole world, that He alone is God and King. And if we were to pay closer attention to the language and imagery of royalty and kingship throughout the Scriptures, we would be more likely to see that.
As we continue to examine the theme of kingship and kingdom in the Bible, we see that God had promised to be Israel’s King. Yet they continually rejected His rule over them. And eventually they would formally reject Him as their King, preferring a king like all the other nations (1 Samuel). And one has only to read through the Prophets and Historical books of the Old Testament to see the tragic results of their insistence on a monarchical ruler who would lead them just like the kings of the other nations led. It was always God’s intention to give Israel a king; but the people rejected God’s plan and insisted on their own.
But here’s what’s beautiful—God has indeed “become King” again (although He’s always been) in and through the Incarnation. What do I mean? God became a Man, and “tabernacled” among us: John 1:14—hearkening back to the language in Exodus when God dwelled amongst His people through the tabernacle in the desert. He then established the governance of His Kingdom (the Sermon on the Mount) and invited people to be His subjects. He then extended His reign through healings and miraculous signs all over Israel and even in Gentile lands. Ultimately, He received a crown, scepter, and robe during His trial, was lifted up on high (on the cross), and died to conquer humanity’s sin and make His enemies His family.
He then rose from death, declaring that His Kingdom has come, and now He has commissioned us, His followers, to extend the invitation to submit to His reign to all peoples, and to preach of the coming day when He will return once again. On that day, He will fully consummate His Kingdom and eradicate all that doesn’t belong (namely, sin and evil). Do you see all of that? How often do we miss the complexity and beauty of the fullness of biblical revelation because we’re accustomed to pulling verses out of context and settling merely for moral lessons or inspiring thoughts?
Now, when we look at the peoples which surrounded ancient Israel, we see that their false gods were capricious and malevolent, and created humans merely to do the “grunt work” of the cosmos and fulfill their whims. But in the Scriptures which recount the story of the true God, we see a gracious God who loves His creation, delights in beauty and blessing, and invites His people into relationship with Him in order to partner with Him in His mission. It’s what Old Testament scholar John Walton has dubbed “relationship through partnership.” And that is a compelling story to be a part of.
“Come, Thou long expected Jesus” – Meredith Andrews
Click here for part 1 of this series
Click here for part 2 of this series
Click here for part 3 of this series
[1] Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible. IVP Academic: Downers Grove, IL (1991), p.21.