“The Kingdom of God!”

Part One: What is the Kingdom of God?

In studying for this series, I discovered there are at least 176 passages (not verses) in the Bible that teach about the “kingdom” (of God, Heaven, Christ, or just ‘kingdom’). From that list I chose 121 passages to study and include in this series (directly or indirectly) in order to present what I believe is the core Biblical teaching on the “Kingdom of God,” βασιλεια του θεου (basilea tou Theo)!

Perhaps the best place to start is with a DEFINITION, answering the question:

What is the Kingdom of God?

The definition I would like to present is based on my understanding of a culmination of many different passages of Scripture (which we look at as we progress in our study).

The most succinct passage is (Psalm 103:19)

Psalm 103:19 CSB

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

“The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”

Perhaps my favorite passage concerning the Kingdom is

1 Chronicles 29:11–12 CSB

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are ruler of everything. […]”

The RULE or REIGN of the King is also beautifully described in (Psalm 72), where Solomon offers a prayer for his reign (vv.1-2), which quickly turns into a prayer for a King and Kingdom that far exceeds the boundaries of Israel!

And in that prayer, we get a PICTURE of what the Kingdom of God will look like!

Note the SPECIFIC THINGS he PRAYS, all marked by the words, “May…, Let…, and “For he will…”:

1. A Kingdom that brings CONTENTMENT and RIGHTEOUSNESS – (v.3)

Creation itself will help fulfill this prayer –

Romans 8:18–19 CSB

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.

2. A Kingdom that brings JUSTICE – (v.4)

NOTE the elements of justice: vindication; relief, “help the poor”; and punishment, “crush the oppressor”!

3. A Kingdom that ENDURES – (v.5)

4. A Kingdom that brings REFRESHMENT – (v.6)

5. A Kingdom of PROSPERITY and CONTENTMENT – (v.7)

“May the righteous flourish […] well-being abound” –

James 3:17–18 CSB

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

6. A Kingdom of UNIVERSAL RULE – (v.8)

Psalm 24:1–2 CSB

The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.

7. A Kingdom that brings ENEMIES to their KNEES – (v.9)

Psalm 47:2-3

Psalm 47:2–3 CSB

For the Lord, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over the whole earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.

Psalm 47:7–9 CSB

Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of the whole earth. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

8. A Kingdom where all earth’s rulers will be in SUBMISSION – (vv.10-11)

o Seen in the bringing of TRIBUTE – (v.10)

Gentile kings from “Tarshish” would be from the furthest kingdom to the West (which would be Spain, though some say it prophetically represents all the Western world!

“Shebah and Seba”represents the kingdoms of the South—Arabia, Ethiopia, and Asia!

o Bowing in WORSHIP – (v.11a)

o And in SERVING! – (v.11b)

Isaiah 49:22–23 CSB

This is what the Lord God says: Look, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. Kings will be your guardians and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the ground and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who put their hope in me will not be put to shame.

9. A Kingdom that seeks the WELFARE of the POOR and AFFLICTED – (vv.12-14)

(v.14) – “redeem” is the word for a ‘kinsman-redeemer’, the kind of redeemer Ruthneeded when she came from Moab to Israel.

Boaz undertook to do two things for Ruth as her near kinsman: he undertook to redeem her personby marrying her, and he undertook to redeem her property. Thus she, a poor widow, was endowed by Boaz with royalty and riches!

10. A Kingdom where WEALTH will be given to Him – (v.15a)

11. A Kingdom where WORSHIP will be given CONTINUALLY – (v.15b)

12. A Kingdom that will FLOURISH in PROSPERITY – (v.16)

“Grain” on “mountain tops” and “cities” will finally be green like “…grass of the field.”

13. A Kingdom that is BLESSED BY GOD and will in turn BLESS GOD CONTINUALLY – (v.17)

What an AMAZING KINGDOM! Folks, that is a Kingdom that I want to be a part of!

But let’s be honest for a moment… “Is all this even possible? How could all this possibly be true? Did Solomon get carried away in the moment and exaggerate his song writing? Or did the Holy Spirit move him to record the words of his psalm/prayer?

How many of you were taught, “If something sounds too good to be true, it is!”

THAT’S why we must FINISH the PRAYER! We need to read the DOXOLOGY! – (vv.18-19)

Psalm 72:18–19 CSB

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders. Blessed be his glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with his glory. Amen and amen.

Folks, only God alone can do this! Only God can ANSWER THIS PRAYER!

The challenge for us is to believe God WILL answer this prayer!

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 CSB

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

We ALSO need to read Solomon’s FINAL DECLARATION – (v.20)

Psalm 72:20 CSB

The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.

“The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded [ended].” – ‘accomplished!’

When this prayer is answered, all prophecy concerning Israel and the world is FULFILLED!

CONCLUSION to Part One:

Q: What do we learn from today’s study about the definition of the Kingdom of God?

A: The KINGDOM of God is the RULE and REIGN of God over HIS CREATION and it will be GLORIOUS!