This morning I have been reading through many verses that have to do with the Throne of God. It is an excellent study theme. While there are many verses I read, I started my study with Psalm 9, where David speaks of God's eternal throne.
Psalm 9:7-10 NIV:
[7] "The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.
[8] He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.
[9] The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
[10] Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."
I am encouraged by Matthew Henry's extensive commentary of God's throne, as follows:
VI. "He (David) comforts himself and others in God, and pleases himself with the thoughts of him.
1. With the thoughts of his eternity. On this earth we see nothing durable, even strong cities are buried in rubbish and forgotten; but the Lord shall endure for ever, Psalms 9:7. There is no change of his being; his felicity, power, and perfection, are out of the reach of all the combined forces of hell and earth; they may put an end to our liberties, our privileges, our lives, but our God is still the same, and sits even upon the floods, unshaken, undisturbed, Psalms 29:10,93:2.
2. With the thoughts of his sovereignty both in government and judgment: He has prepared his throne, has fixed it by his infinite wisdom, has fixed it by his immutable counsel. It is the great support and comfort of good people, when the power of the church's enemies is threatening and the posture of its affairs melancholy and perplexed, that God now rules the world and will shortly judge the world.
3. With the thoughts of his justice and righteousness in all the administrations of his government. He does all every day, he will do all at the last day, according to the eternal unalterable rules of equity (Psalms 9:8): He shall judge the world, all persons and all controversies, shall minister judgment to the people (shall determine their lot both in this and in the future state) in righteousness and in uprightness, so that there shall not be the least colour of exception against it.
4. With the thoughts of that peculiar favour which God bears to his own people and the special protection which he takes them under. The Lord, who endures for ever, is their everlasting strength and protection; he that judges the world will be sure to judge for them, when at any time they are injured or distressed (Psalms 9:9): He will be a refuge for the oppressed, a high place, a strong place, for the oppressed, in times of trouble. It is the lot of God's people to be oppressed in this world and to have troublous times appointed to them. Perhaps God may not immediately appear for them as their deliverer and avenger; but, in the midst of their distresses, they may by faith flee to him as their refuge and may depend upon his power and promise for their safety, so that no real hurt shall be done them.
5. With the thoughts of that sweet satisfaction and repose of mind which those have that make God their refuge (Psalms 9:10): "Those that know thy name will put their trust in thee, as I have done" (for the grace of God is the same in all the saints), "and then they will find, as I have found, that thou dost not forsake those that seek thee;" for the favour of God is the same towards all the saints.
Note, (1.) The better God is known the more he is trusted. Those who know him to be a God of infinite wisdom will trust him further than they can see him (Job 35:14); those who know him to be a God of almighty power will trust him when creature-confidences fail and they have nothing else to trust to (2 Chronicles 20:12); and those who know him to be a God of infinite grace and goodness will trust him though he slay them, Job 13:15. Those who know him to be a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that, though the performance be deferred and intermediate providences seem to contradict it. Those who know him to be the Father of spirits, and an everlasting Father, will trust him with their souls as their main care and trust in him at all times, even to the end.
(2.) The more God is trusted the more he is sought unto. If we trust God we shall seek him by faithful and fervent prayer, and by a constant care to approve ourselves to him in the whole course of our conversations.
(3.) God never did, nor ever will, disown or desert any that duly seek to him and trust in him. Though he afflict them, he will not leave them comfortless; though he seem to forsake them for a while, yet he will gather them with everlasting mercies."
This reflection has been helpful to me, for to many of us, the idea of the throne is somewhat foreign. We know the stories from scripture, and examples from history, but often the idea of a throne, and the purpose of this imagery is lost on us, especially those that do not have a monarchy as government. It is important to note that God could have chosen to reveal Himself, and His authority and justice in any way He wanted, but He chose to use a throne. The imagery of the Heavenly Throne is consistent from 2 Chronicles 18:8, through David's revelations in Psalms, to Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel's visions of heaven, and finally with John's vision in Revelations. God's throne is a consistent theme in much of scripture.
I am greatly encouraged by one of the verses concerning God's throne, found in the Book of Revelation 3:21 NIV:
"To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne."
And finally, a couple of last verses relating to God's throne.
Revelation 21:3-7 NIV:
[3] "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. [4] 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
[5] He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
[6] He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. [7] Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children."
Amen and Amen!
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