“the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 'You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.'” Revelation 4:10-11
Scripture points out that kings of this world like to hold onto their power.
Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go.
King Ahab sought to kill the prophets of the Lord.
King Saul tried to kill David and was greatly jealous of him.
King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to kill anyone who would not bow down and worship him.
King Herod sought to kill the Messiah and put John the Baptist in prison for speaking the truth.
But Scripture tell us, “The proud will be humbled, and the humbled will be exalted” (Mt. 23:12).
And Scripture certainly testifies to this truth. Pharaoh was defeated. Ahab is no more. The Messiah came from the line of David and not the line of Saul. God, and not King Nebuchadnezzar, has an eternal kingdom. Jesus, not Herod, is still on the throne. And yet, Jesus was a King who gave His life away for our sake.
If these earthly kings teach us anything, and I do think God intended them to teach us something and that is why He put them in Scripture, it would be that we should take Jesus’ words to heart that, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it” (Mt. 16:25). When we relinquish control and humbly surrender to Christ, we will find the true life of joy and freedom that God wants for us.
And so, this is an encouragement to loosen your grip of kingship. Don’t take yourself too seriously, seek greatness, or keep a tight grip of control. History and God’s Word testifies that it doesn’t end well. In lowering ourselves in worship before the throne of God, and in loving service to God and others, God will stoop to lift us to heights we never dreamed possible.