Word of Salvation – Vol. 37 No. 18 – June 1992

 

The Rule Of God / The Devil’s Broken Back

 

Sermon by Rev. M. Vanderree on Psalm 47

Reading: Acts 1:1-11

 

People of God,

Welcome to a celebration of coronation!  Had this been the celebration of the coronation of some earthly monarch, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, then the media would be out in force, or at least the Women’s Weekly camera crew, but not so for the Ascension of Christ.  For many churches and Christians, the Ascension is no more striking than any other day.  Pity!  Because the Ascension is a grant event!  Perhaps this indicates again the paradox and foolishness of the Gospel.

Many of you came home after a hard day’s work, only to gobble down your tea, and to leave a trail of dust as you travelled to church.  And tomorrow it will be business as usual, it will be a regular Friday, and it’s possible that we’ll find it hard to understand the meaning of Christ’s going to heaven to sit at God’s right hand.

Psalm 47 is one of the best commentaries on the Ascension of Jesus Christ.  Christ’s Ascension is not just an encore but a standing ovation.  It is not an extra sandwiched between Easter and Pentecost 40 days after the rousing climax of his resurrection and ten days short of Pentecost Sunday.  Christ’s Ascension was a special victory.  It was a new historical development in the Rule of God.  It calls for rhythmic clapping, shouting cheers, time off to celebrate, lusty singing of newly composed songs, the blasting of trumpets, and dancing.  If you don’t believe me, read Psalm 47!

1.  God’s rule over unearthly powers.

All powers are subject to Christ.  When God exalted the risen Jesus Christ, then in some important way, everything that stood in opposition to the reign and rule of God, (forces referred to as, ‘principalities and powers’, ‘unseen evil authorities’), became subject to Christ in a more controlled way.  Phil.2:5-11, 1Peter 3:18-22.

Indeed, Christ is King!  But the ‘right’ for Christ to rule was not a cut and dried affair.  Jesus really suffered temptation.  Heb.4:14-16.  It was only after Jesus had withstood the devil’s official, crafty offers of free power that Christ said he saw Satan fall like a lightning bolt from heaven.  Luke 10:17-20.  It was only after Jesus had fearfully sweat blood in Gethsemane and had submitted to God’s will in facing the ordeal of criminal charges, accusations, blasphemy and the torture of the cross that he trustfully quote Psalm 22 and commended himself into God’s care.  Matt.27:45-54.  It was only after he had been raised from the powerful clutches of the grave and death that he told his still doubting disciples, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me’.  Col.2:8-15; Matt.28:16-20.  And only with the victory of Jesus’ Ascension was the promise of Psalm 110 fulfilled.  Christ may now ‘rest there’ while God makes a footstool of the Lord’s enemies.  Heb.10:12-13.

Ascension Day is the anniversary of Christ’s historical enthronement to worldly rule, recognized even by the ‘prince of this world’ and the devils, who did their worst to prevent it.  John 16:4-11.

Psalm 47 is a liturgical celebration of the Lord ascending, among the victory shouts of God’s people (Psalm 132:8-10).

To be sure, the Old Testament people of God did not have the perspective of redemptive history that we have.  They did not see the coming of the Messiah.  Their life of faith was wrapped up in shadow and promises, faith and hope in what was yet to come.

But one thing they did see was nations who dared to set themselves up as God.  They saw the arrogance and pride of man who lusted for power and possessions.  They saw that within their families, servanthood was replaced by domination.  They saw that in their business dealings, fairness and justice was corrupted for gain and manipulation.  The people of God were surrounded by nations, who, much like the nations of our age, made deals for peace, or invaded their neighbours to enlarge their empire.  Those who were able to see with the eyes of faith, knew that the real struggle was between two kingdoms, the kingdom of light and darkness, heaven and hell, God and Satan.

Psalm 47 is a call to acclaim the King and His Majesty.  It seems quite likely that Psalm 47 was written as a response to the defeat of the Assyrians near Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah.  The call is to acclaim the King, for God has made the nations his footstool.  Part of the ceremony would have been the procession with the Ark of the Covenant.  The message is undeniably clear: Every power against God will have its back broken.

2.  Exorcism and the rule of our Ascended God.

Psalm 47 celebrates the rule of God.

Men can scheme and plot as much as they like.  Whether their names are Rouse, Burke, Reagan or Hussein or simply Vanderree, Hartog or other good Dutch names, none of us are ‘powers unto ourselves’.  The Ascended God controls the affairs of men.  That is reason for comfort, as well as reason for honest reflection.

The confession of God’s people is that no one can withstand God who chooses Canaan as his possession, and lavishes his grace on his people.

The Ascended Lord is our King.  He is seated on the royal throne.  God has demonstrated his right to rule in the events of history.

This can only be seen with the eyes of faith!  Recently two books have been published: Piercing the Darkness and Through the Darkness.  The author F. Perretti wants his readers to be aware of the reality and subtlety of the battle of two kingdoms.  For many who have read these books it is the first awareness of that dimension of life.

The one who rules history is our King.

3.  The enthroned Lord is supremely sovereign (9)

The Psalm calls us to look to the future, for there will be a day when all nobles, kings and people will stand before the King.  The ‘goyim’, the ‘nations’, the ‘heathen’ who stand arrogantly against God will have their power broken.

The absolute climax is that every power against God has its back broken by Jesus Christ’s Ascension.

All power is given to Christ and his captive train.  Psalms 68:16.  Eph.4:8.  Indeed: When he ascended on high he held captives in his train.

There are two profound and powerful implications that God impresses on us this evening.

The fact of Christ’s Ascension and the exuberant praise of Psalm 47, is that we, who belong to God and confess that Jesus is Lord, shall never be separated from the love of Almighty God.  For our confession is like that of the Psalmist: Sing praises to God, Sing praises to our King!

But meanwhile our charter for living is clear.  We, as adopted children of God, are called not to fight people, but the powerfully evil principalities that subvert God’s rule on earth.

Tomorrow we must do battle for the Kingdom of God.  Even though the ‘back’ of evil is broken, it still has power to enslave.

That power may be evident in our homes, schools, places of work, politics, media, as it seeks to control and dominate people.

So we are called upon to proclaim and demonstrate the rule of God, casting out the power of Satan who seeks to subvert and destroy the rule of God.

We are to reflect not a worship of ourselves, but the worship of the true God.

See the Ascended Christ!  See the Rule of God!  Be assured that the Devil’s back has been broken!

AMEN