08/31/2026
'The Psalms contain abundant evidence as to the rights and duties of the magistrate in a Christian state. This is a prominent feature of the messianic Psalms. Kings and judges of the earth are instructed not only to serve the Lord with fear, but also to kiss the Son, lest he be angry, Psalm 2:10 12. Psalm 22:28 assigns as the reason why all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before the Lord, that the kingdom is the Lord’s and he is the governor among the nations. The Savior, whose sufferings have been depicted in the Psalms, is here set forth as mediatorial king of the nations. The implication is that the civil magistrate in obedience to the sovereign Lord will exercise this legitimate authority in furthering the worship of God.
'Psalm 72:11 is explicit in its prediction of the flourishing state of Messiah’s kingdom: 'Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.' There is no reason to restrict the sense of the verse to the salvation of individuals, and to exclude a reference to the exercise of regal authority and the corporate activity of nations. Psalm 138:4 5 is another example: 'All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.' That the civil magistrate will be the voluntary subject of the King of kings is the uniform teaching of the Psalter.' — 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝐶ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 (1992) [pictured: Gerard van Honthorst, 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑑 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝 (1622)]
"The Psalms contain abundant evidence as to the rights and duties of the magistrate in a Christian state. This is a prominent feature of the messianic Psalms. Kings and judges of the earth are instructed not only to serve the Lord with fear, but also to kiss the Son, lest he be angry, Psalm 2:10 12. Psalm 22:28 assigns as the reason why all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before the Lord, that the kingdom is the Lord’s and he is the governor among the nations. The Savior, whose sufferings have been depicted in the Psalms, is here set forth as mediatorial king of the nations. The implication is that the civil magistrate in obedience to the sovereign Lord will exercise this legitimate authority in furthering the worship of God.
Psalm 72:11 is explicit in its prediction of the flourishing state of Messiah’s kingdom: 'Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.' There is no reason to restrict the sense of the verse to the salvation of individuals, and to exclude a reference to the exercise of regal authority and the corporate activity of nations. Psalm 138:4 5 is another example: 'All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.' That the civil magistrate will be the voluntary subject of the King of kings is the uniform teaching of the Psalter." — 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝐶ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 (1992) [pictured: Gerard van Honthorst, 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑑 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝 (1622)]
