This is Faith to Witness 99, motivating us to hear God and share the Shepherd.  

Season 3 Episode 160 I Have a King (so did David, Part 1) 

Here’s the gist, human. The whole king – no kings debate really has a strong hold on the human heart, doesn’t it? Far beyond the confines of how we define and divide over a presidency and a country. King David is on my mind. A seeker of God’s truth. All those psalms—written, sung, lamentedprimarily by a shepherd boy turned king—who lived before the Shepherd. As part one of two episodes, let’s spend a little time in the world of the one who spoke freely with God, who laid his heart bare, who bore the royal lineage of Jesus Christ, who wrote the book on praise (literally).

The beauty of it is that he was one. And we praise the same King.

E160. Thanks for listening.

I’ll say it again. The whole king – no kings debate really has a strong hold on the human heart, doesn’t it? Far beyond the confines of how we define and divide over a presidency and a country. Because the human heart resists sovereign rule. Yet it is so beyond settled for me. I am thrilled to see the word “King” in the conversation.

Because I have one. And not just a king. The King of kings.

I’m Kathryn Bise, your host.

What did Gabriel say to the virgin Mary about the coming King?

Luke 1:32-33

 

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 

What did Jesus say hours before he hung on the cross?

John 18:36-37

 

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

 

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

 

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

 

I am overwhelmed with how Jesus bears testimony to his Heavenly Father and the Kingdom. That he came to us “to testify to the truth.”

If we seek truth, we listen to Jesus.

A King Proclaiming the King of Kings

King David is on my mind. A seeker of God’s truth. Right now, I am making my way through the Psalms again. Written, sung, lamented primarily by a shepherd boy turned king who lived before the Shepherd.

As part one of two episodes, I want to spend a little time in the world of the one who spoke freely with God, who laid his heart bare, who bore the royal lineage of Jesus Christ, who wrote the book on praise (literally).

The beauty of it is that he was one. A king proclaiming the King of kings. A king who proclaimed the majesty of God.

Psalm 8

 

For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.

 

1 Lord, our Lord,

    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

    in the heavens.

2 Through the praise of children and infants

    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

    to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,

    the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

    which you have set in place,

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angel

    and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

    you put everything under their feet:

7 all flocks and herds,

    and the animals of the wild,

8 the birds in the sky,

    and the fish in the sea,

    all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,

    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

God Brings Us to a Place of Praise

When I was finishing my annual Bible trek during the summer I tagged a scripture in Hebrews to return to. For those of you who are new, I journaled my trek this year in Substack if that’s of interest to you. The link is in e160 show notes at kathrynbise.com

God prompted my memory to return to Hebrews in the context of my reading in Psalms. I didn’t know why.

So the author of Hebrews, likely Paul, begins,

Hebrews 1

 

God’s Final Word: His Son

 

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

And this is the scripture I tagged:

Hebrews 13:15

 

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Of course I would note this, since this podcast is weekly motivation to hear God, know God more intimately so we can share the Shepherd with others better. Profess his name more. I had lingered on “a sacrifice of praise” because of what came next, “the fruit of lips.”  

When I proclaim that I have a King, it cuts through the membrane of the heart in so many people. So that is where we are going in take 2 of this little episode duet, to a place that connects the God of David to the High Priest of ultimate sacrifice. The truth of the God in Hebrews that elevates Jesus to his reign and redeems us for a life filled with praise.

Our witness stands on the truth of the King.

To All Who Call on Him in Truth

Let’s prepare in response to the angel Gabriel when he said, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” (Psalm 145:18) Picture this earthly king, how he praises, the wisdom God has revealed to him for all that seek his truth. How easily praise comes to him.

Picture yourself given over to, committing to praise of the only King who is trustworthy.

Psalm 145

 

A psalm of praise. Of David.

 

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;

    I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you

    and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

    his greatness no one can fathom.

4 One generation commends your works to another;

    they tell of your mighty acts.

5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—

    and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7 They celebrate your abundant goodness

    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;

    he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All your works praise you, Lord;

    your faithful people extol you.

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom

    and speak of your might,

12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts

    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises

    and faithful in all he does.

14 The Lord upholds all who fall

    and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,

    and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand

    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways

    and faithful in all he does.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,

    to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

    he hears their cry and saves them.

20 The Lord watches over all who love him,

    but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.

    Let every creature praise his holy name

    for ever and ever.

When I started this episode I was feeling spiritually parched. A little lethargic. Needing a God-boost. And he does that by just being who he is. Praise is such a powerful tool to turn a day toward him. And I have many people to share the sacrifice of praise with, people who need this practice to embrace the struggling nature of this life.

Let’s continue to move between the Psalms, the voice of a king, and the glory of Jesus as our High Priest and the King of kings. Because we have a generous God, who shares his attributes through his Son so we might share his attributes through his Son’s sacrifice.

This is our story arc now. It is beautiful, sacrificial, an emptying of our Savior at the altar. A praising for our King.

Episode 161.