WORLD-WIDE and deep has been the disappointment caused by the deferred coronation of King Edward the Seventh. The cause thereof—the grave illness of the King—has evoked true and right sympathy; and, as I write, deep is the thankfulness of countless hearts at the tidings of His Majesty’s recovery of health.
“God save the King,” in every sense, has been and is the desire of the heart, and the language of the lip. Never has an impending coronation produced such world-wide interest, such bright expectations, such aggregation of multitudes from every part of the earth, and such profound chagrin, when the long-looked- for event was found to be impossible, and all the festivities connected therewith declared to be off.
One lesson we must all learn from this tragic circumstance is that God disposes all things, whatever man may propose. It is fervently to be hoped that His Majesty’s coronation is only deferred; but the future is with God.
There is, however, a coronation close at hand, which is certain to arrive, and to that I would turn my reader’s attention for a brief moment. The question which heads this paper was tittered nearly three thousand years ago. It relates to the bringing back of King David to his throne. He had been crowned, yet lie had lost his crown through the rebellion of Absalom. When this unfilial usurper of his father’s throne had fallen at the hand of Joab, the question arose as to why the true king had not been brought back. The tribes of Israel were sang, “The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?” A touching message from the king reached the elders of Judah saying, “Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house? Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh; wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?” The effect was this, “And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king—Return thou and all thy servants. So the king returned and came to Jordan; and Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan” (2 Sam. 19:9, 10, 12-159And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? (2 Samuel 19:9‑10)
12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? 13And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. (2 Samuel 19:12‑15)).
Now this is but a figure of Christ’s present position and future return. He has been rejected, cast out, refused by the world, slain, buried, and sealed in His tomb. This was the world’s treatment of the One of whom it had been said, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” The world did not want God’s Saviour, nor His King; but it will yet see Him, and have to own Him. For God has raised Him from the dead and seated Him in glory, saying, “Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psa. 110:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1)). Before the day when He makes His enemies His footstool, He is seeking to make them His friends. He does this by the revelation of His love, and by the proclamation of pardon and peace as the fruit of His own atoning death.
Have you, my reader, been yet turned to be His friend? If not, it is time you carefully regarded your relationship to Him, for He is coming, and coming quickly. And one day, when the world least thinks of it, the prophet’s vision will be fulfilled. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:11-1611And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11‑16)).
This solemn picture of the Lord’s return to the world declares that on His head were many crowns, placed there by God’s hand. But depend upon it the world will yet own His title, and another Old Testament picture have its answer. We read, “Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, “God save the king” (2 Chron. 23:1111Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king. (2 Chronicles 23:11)). A wonderful day will it be when Jesus will have His rights recognized, and established in this world, the spot of His rejection. Our relation to Him today will fix our position in regard to Him in that day, when He shall reign. Truly says the Scripture, “It is a faithful saying; for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:11, 1211It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:11‑12)).
My friend, if your heart has not been bowed to Him, may God bow it now. If you have never believed in Jesus, may you be brought to believe in Him now, and find peace and pardon through faith in His blessed Name. And then may you be found among the number who are longing to bring back the King. The world does not want His return. But those who love Him truly long for His return. Affection says to Him, “Return Thou.” It is the worldly and unbelieving heart that says, “My Lord delayeth his coming” (Matt. 24:4848But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; (Matthew 24:48)). What are you saying to Him? It is good for each of us to ask ourselves,— Am I ready for His coming? Am I waiting for His coming? Am I longing for His coming? And am I saying to Him, “Return Thou”?
In the day of His return will the scripture be fulfilled, “Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart” (Song of Sol. 3:1111Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. (Song of Solomon 3:11)).
When He passed through this world a stranger, unloved, unwanted, uncared for, it was the day of the sadness of His heart. When He comes back again, with all then owning His sway, and confessing His name, it will be the day of the gladness of His heart. For then “his name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed” (Psa. 72:1717His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. (Psalm 72:17)). God hasten the coming Coronation!
W. T. P. W.