King of Kings

As I write this, Syria is going through a crisis. Bashar al-Assad, their brutal dictator, has been driven out and the nation is in turmoil, with potentially global repercussions. For those living there, these are tumultuous and, in many ways, frightening times. What does the future hold? And there are implications far beyond the already fractured Middle East.

This is a psalm for times like this. Who’s ultimately in charge? The kings of the earth? The rulers? The god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4)? No, absolutely not! God has installed His Son as King over the whole world (Psalm 2:6-8). The world may not acknowledge Him, may ignore Him and defy Him; but whatever people may think or say, Jesus is Lord of all. He may allow people to do what they want. He waits patiently in the hope that some will turn to Him in all the chaos. ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’ (2 Peter 3:9).

Jesus said that such times will certainly come. ‘When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away’ (Luke 21:9).

How do we pray, many of us far away from the melting-pot that Syria has become? We can pray for all the people of that nation, especially, perhaps, for the Christian believers. We can pray for Israel, so inescapably enmeshed in the conflicts of the region. We can pray that God will fulfil all His purposes. We can declare that, come what may, He is Lord of all. We can continue to pray that God will fulfil His promise to Jesus. ‘Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession’ (Psalm 2:8).