God as King

• monarchy was a familiar concept for most of the biblical period and whether monarchs rules small city-states or huge nations, the ruler's authority was absolute. so it is not surprising that 'king' and other royal titles were used of god
• in his vision in the temple, the prophet Isaiah saw god seated on a throne and he feared he would die, 'for my eyes have seen the king, the lord of hosts'. the vision is one of god's power over everything, including life and death
• the term messiah was used of Israel's kings and so its application to Jesus suggests a kingly figure, associated with power and wealth, which was why Jesus did not use it himself
• Jesus was associated with the inauguration of the kingdom of god

  • this is not a place but refers to god's rule as king of the universe
  • it is often understood as both a present and a future reality
  • understood as part of the future reality; Jesus, the anointed king, will return to fully establish the kingdom of god. in the kingdom of god there will be no pain or hunger, and there will be peace