Generally, when a baby is born, there is rejoicing in the family and among friends of the family. Everyone is happy, and there is a lot of oohing and aahing over the baby. When the baby Jesus was born, His mother Mary and foster father Joseph rejoiced, along with all of the angels in heaven, the shepherds who were told, and later the magi who came to worship Him. Today, believers all around the world celebrate Christmas and rejoice with the birth of Jesus, His first coming to earth.
Yes, Christmas festivities honor the first coming of the Lord Jesus to earth, and we celebrate and venerate that occasion. The coming of Jesus to earth the first time brought salvation to all who accepted Him and welcomed Him into their hearts. There is another time when there will be rejoicing among believers, and that is when Jesus returns to earth a second time. The first time He came, though He was God, He came as a helpless baby, and His ministry focused on teaching and serving others, and dying as the Suffering Servant. This second time when He comes, He will come as the victorious King that He is.
Our psalm for this week proclaims the excitement and joy over the rule of the Lord in His kingdom. In the past, kings and emperors would frequently lead their armies in battle against the enemy. In the last 100-200 years this hasn’t generally been the case, but prior to then it was quite often the case. When they would return victoriously, there was generally great rejoicing among the people of their realm. There would be victory parades, victory bands, and huge crowds of people shouting their cheers.
In verse one we read that the Lord has won the victory. The psalmist proclaims that the victory was won by His power, not some other leader or military general, but through His right hand and holy arm. It was through His power and His leadership, and it was a marvelous victory. No wonder the people are rejoicing! Who did He win the victory over? Ultimately the victory is over Satan and his followers. Since the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, Satan has held power over the earth and over so many people throughout history, and certainly today many have chosen to follow him. When Jesus returns a second time He will destroy the power of Satan, along with his demons and his followers.
When Jesus came the first time, He made known His salvation and His righteousness to the whole world (vs. 2). Over the succeeding centuries believers have been proclaiming His saving message to the ends of the earth (vs. 3). When He came the first time the angels rejoiced, along with His immediate family, but certainly not the whole world. When He returns the second time, though, it will be a different story. We see the psalmist tell of a whole population breaking forth in song, rejoicing and singing, with instruments, a band, a whole orchestra ringing forth (vs. 4-6). When a triumphant king returned, no one in the city kept silent! Likewise, when our victorious Savior returns, His people will give a great cheer and erupt into praise and welcome!
The psalmist says that not only the people, but that all of nature will rejoice, as well (vs. 7-8). Nature has been held under captivity by Satan since the Fall, and when Jesus comes they, too, will be set free. Nature knows its Creator, and will sing forth in praise to Him when He returns as the triumphant King.
When Jesus returns He will judge the world (vs. 9). Because God is victorious over evil, all those who follow Him will be victorious with Him when He judges the earth. Unlike human rulers who often judge their conquered enemies with vindictiveness, Jesus will judge in perfect righteousness. God is both perfectly loving and perfectly just. Those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus will have no need to fear. Those who haven’t will face His wrath. As we come to the close of another year, are we waiting with anticipation for the return of our victorious king? It could be at any time!
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