A Reigning Saviour
‘This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing’ —
“ailflut’a: for tf)f 3Lorfi ®ot( omnipotent reignttlj.”
—Rev. xix. 6.
Sabiour.
No Palm in all the grove (specially for the woe-worn pilgrim) has a more gracious or inviting shadow than that whose leaves seem to whisper, “Thy God reigneth.” To change the simile, it forms the foundation truth of all comfort. An old writer speaks of it as the first word spelt in the afflicted man’s primer.
Our motto-verse has an interest of its own, in connection with what precedes in the chapter of which it is a part. On the announcement of the destruction of the mystic Babylon in the immediate context, a voice emanates from the celestial throne, “Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great;” and then is heard in response, as it were, “the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.’”
It is striking to note the contrast between the way in which the awful catastrophe, described in the previous chapter, is received on earth and in heaven. On earth there is heard nothing but “weeping and lamentation.” The kings and the princes, the mighty men and the merchants, are depicted as robing themselves in sackcloth and casting dust upon their heads. In a bold figure of poetry, a portentous column of smoke is represented catching the eye of the mariners on the distant ocean, as they are speeding along in their vessels freighted with the produce and luxuries of the world, (v. 17). “All the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city?... and they cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas! alas! that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness, for in one hour is she made desolate.”
Such is the case with an awestruck world; but how is it with the Church alike in heaven and upon earth? There the smoke of that tremendous conflagration is the signal for a song of jubilee. No tongue is silent. It is taken up by small and great, redeemed and unredeemed; and the tide of triumph increases as it rolls. Every fresh view of this divine judgment affords matter for loftier exultation. At first, the rapt seer heard no more than “a great voice of much people in /lea-ren.” But the music of the celestial choirs is caught up by the dwellers in the lower sanctuary. It seems “like the voice of a great multitude.” Louder still, it becomes “as the voice of many waters;” and then, with an ever- augmenting volume, it is like “the roll of mighty thunderings:” — “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!”
It is a typical representation of the unfolding of the wisdom and righteousness of all God’s dispensations and purposes to His Church — partly evolved in this world, fully evolved in the world to come. The song of His people, often raised on earth in feeble, trembling, faltering accents, Will be an ever-deepening one, as the “why” and the “wherefore” of these dealings become gradually more manifest.
It is hard and difficult often here, to recognise the divine love and wisdom, and to own the rectitude of the dark dispensation. But “what we know not now we shall know hereafter.” In the Great day of disclosures — the cloudless, sinless, sorrowless morning of immortality — the mysteries of Providence will be unravelled; every event will be seen reflected as in a glorious mirror; all the now veiled purposes will be fully revealed, perplexing dealings vindicated. “In Thy light, O God, we shall see light.” Each lip will then be brought to confess that this reigning Lord has been ’ righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.’ Each fresh retrospect will cause the hearts of the Redeemed to bound with holier rapture, and their tongues to thrill with louder notes of exultation. The gradual revelation of God’s earthly plan will afi”ord new matter and new motive for praise. Not until the various component parts of the divine dealings are brought together — not till we view them as a whole — can we see their unity and admire their grandeur.
The present life, in its conflicting relations, its discords and confusions, is the tuning of the musical instruments before the great hallelujah chorus — the magnificent harmonies of Heaven. Then that chorus, like the song of adoration of the exulting myriads in the seer’s vision, will become a louder and yet louder ascription of praise, deepening till its effluent waves of sound become like the noise of mighty thunderings. And this verse at the head of our meditation will be the everlasting refrain!
Nor can we omit to add further, that that Sovereign Ruler is the same “Lion of the tribe of Judah” into whose hands, in the beginning of the Apocalyptic visions, was put the sealed roll of Providence (Rev. v. i-6). It is Christ, the exalted King and Head of His Church, His brows crowned with many crowns, who holds the reins of universal empire! We can claim Him as a Brother, we can love Him as a Friend, we can adore Him as a God! We repeat, that glorious Keystone which crowns the arch is hidden at times behind the clouds. We see it not! Often we lose the divine footsteps — often we look with straining eye for one fringe of light in the darkened firmament. But He is there! — “that same Jesus:” — the might of deity slumbering in His arm, the tenderness of humanity glowing at His heart. Jesus is “the Lord omnipotent,” and He “reigneth “! Jesus reigneth! Then perish every desponding thought. Jesus reigneth! Then, though heart and flesh faint and fail, He will be the strength of our heart, and our portion for ever. Jesus reigneth! He reigneth to love, to pity, to plead, to sympathise, to bless; He reigneth to sustain the needy, to comfort the broken hearted, to reclaim the wandering, to save the lost; He reigneth to justify, to sanctify, and finally to glorify; and He will live and reign over Zion triumphant as well as militant “through all generations!” — the object of adoring praise and gratitude to His Church through all eternity — their light, their life, their strength, their portion, their all in all!
Oh, can we say, with lowly, joyful confidence, seated under the shelter of so glorious a palm — “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; the sceptre of Thy Kingdom is a right sceptre?”
“Hark! the song of jubilee,
Loud as mighty thunder’s roar,
Or the fulness of the sea
When it breaks upon the shore.
A REIGNING SA VIOUR. a’j
‘Hallelujah! for the Lord
God omnipotent doth reign.’
Hallelujah! let the word
Echo round the earth and main.
“He shall reign from pole to pole
With illimitable sway;
He shall reign when, like a scroll,
Yonder heavens have passed away.
Then the end: beneath His rod
Man’s last enemy shall fall.
Hallelujah! Christ in God,
God in Christ, is all in all!”
THE LORD THY GOD IN THE MIDST OF THEE IS MIGHTY; HE
WILL SAVE, HE WILL REJOICE OVER THEE WITH JOY;
HE WILL REST IN HIS LOVE, HE WILL JOY
OVER THEE WITH SINGING.”