Psalm 103:19 “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.”
The Throne of God has been an area of intrigue with me for years. I used to wonder if God had a throne like a king, inlaid with gold and silver, purple cushions, ornate with curved moldings of angels or lions while positioned at the head of some giant hall.
The image of a kings throne can be somewhat misleading when we consider the Throne of Almighty God, the glory and splendor described by those whom God has given the privilege of seeing His throne is quite different than any earthly description. Although God’s Throne isn’t on this earth, we hear the testimony to better understand its significance.
Psalm 97:2 “Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne”
God’s Magnificence
The glory of God is such that everything else grows dark around Him. Nothing can compare to the brilliance of His majesty. Even light grows faint in the midst of his glory.
When considering anything well built, a good builder considers the foundation it is built upon. If the foundation is built poorly, no matter how nice the structure it will be unstable. The foundation of God’s throne gives insight.
Although we are unable to fully look upon God in our current state nor are we able to fully grasp the measure of His glory, we can consider what He has revealed to us and rejoice.
Righteousness is the perfection of God’s holiness or nature. Justice is a reflection of the law and it’s God’s moral law that reveals man’s separation from Him while guiding those who profess Jesus as their Savior. It’s interesting that righteousness and justice is the foundational attributes of God’s throne. Without a knowledge of sin, mankind could not receive the grace and mercy offered as restitution. Without justice, God’s Holiness would mean nothing more than the truth that we make it.
God would not be sovereign without these two attributes, but simply one of a billion god’s contrived by those who don’t want to be held accountable for their actions.
God’s justice establishes His authority, it demands respect and honor and the fear of the Lord then leads men to repentance. At the end of the law is Jesus, waiting, with open arms to all who would receive the mercy and grace that He afforded.
Romans 10:4-5 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
Upon accepting and believing Jesus as Lord and Savior, His perfection then becomes our perfection. We are made perfect because Jesus was perfect.
Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”
The Good King
There have been many good and bad kings in history. A short Old Testament survey reveals an entire lineage of kings who did evil in the sight of the Lord and others who lived and ruled righteously.
Psalm 88:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.”
What goes before God is how He is presented and what we see before Him is Mercy and Truth. If you were to stand before the throne of an earthly king, you would need to recognize his authority. Come before a king unworthy, and you’ll see his authority exercised over you and your life may very well be forfeited.
Come before the King of kings unworthy and the ramifications will have eternal consequences. To show mercy is to love unconditionally. Love is a benchmark for God’s people, if you don’t love, you don’t know God. Truth is absolute. You cannot add to or take away anything from truth, it stands alone in perfection. You must be perfect to come before God, if you don’t then your sins are what represent you—you will be found unworthy.
Has Yahweh shown you Mercy?
Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Godly expectation is why we model ourselves after Him. If we want to receive mercy (not getting what we deserve), we must give mercy to others.
James 2:13 “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
As we look further, we see descriptives of all that surrounds God’s throne.
The Brilliance of God
Revelation 4:3 “And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.”
I find it interesting that jasper, which was green in the priestly breastplate is actually described more as a diamond that is known for its brilliance. Sardis, represents purity, it’s red hue would be illustrative of the brilliance of the King of glory. The red blood that Jesus bore on the cross was so vital for our salvation; blood represents life.
The rainbow represents the promise that holds within its band emerald green. According to Jewish Midrash, the Tribe of Levi which was chosen to serve God in the Temple was given the gem as a sign of their wisdom and devotion. Both the Talmud and Midrash associate emeralds with intelligence and wisdom.
Not only is God’s splendor and majesty on display, but we also see those whom God has honored, seated around Him. The fact that they too sit on thrones is a recognition of the authority God imparts to them. We witness the divine calling of God’s goodness when He entrusts His servants with His power as ambassadors to the world.
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
The Throne of God has had a place of significance throughout history. When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, we see God’s glory filling the temple and resting between the wings of the Cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant.
The components that filled the Ark were the tablets of Moses revealing the Law, the manna that showed forth God’s provision and mercy, and finally Aaron’s priestly staff that contained the sprouts signifying our Savior who is our ultimate High Priest, giving life to all who follow.
When Jesus suffered and died at Calvary, the curtain of the temple was torn, and the foundation of the temple was broken. No longer does the Lord abide in a temple made by man but now His temple is in our hearts.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
God Glory Revealed
The glory of God rests on His people. We are called to be His light to the world. When Jesus appears again and takes us with Him into Heaven, we will dwell with Him. This is our hope, the joy of all who eagerly wait for His return.
Revelation 5:13-14 “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever! Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
The glory of God’s throne is found in the One who sits upon it. The Lord will not share His glory with another, either Jesus is everything to you or He is nothing. One day, every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess that He is God—all falsity will be removed and only the pure in heart will remain.
If the Lord is your priority, He will be your reward. When you stand before Him it won’t be in shame but in thanksgiving. Worship Him now and you will worship Him then. Reject Him now and there will no longer remain a sacrifice for your sin.
Amazingly, the Lord in His mercy gives you a choice. Accept or reject–the time of decision is at hand.
U.T. 