What is the Kingdom of God?

First, let’s go back to the OT to help us understand the origin of the concept of the Kingdom of God.  I want to point out a couple of places where The Kingdom of God is mentioned then I’ll give some explanation.

1 Chronicles 28:5, This comes from King David’s charge to all Israel toward the end of his reign.  He said, “And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.”

Then in 2 Chronicles 13:8, (some context here: this is Abijah, David’s great grandson, speaking to the king of Israel, the northern kingdom; remember that at this period the kingdom had split in two).  He said, “And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods (a little idolatry going on there in the northern kingdom).”

From these two passages, we see that there’s a connection between The Kingdom of the God and King David.  And for this to make sense, we need to understand some history. 

Israel, when they came into the promised land, they had no king.  They weren’t like the other nations and peoples.  Other nations had a king.  Israel had no king.  This was because Israel had God.  Israel was a Theocracy.  Israel was ruled by God.  They had the Law, they had prophets, and they had judges.  They needed no king because God was their king. 

However, the people began to desire a king, an earthly king to rule over them.  God told them this was bad.  He told them that an earthly king would rule over them with a rod of iron, that he would tax them and take their sons off to war.  He told them this was bad.  But, because they desired a king, God would give them a king.  So he gave them King Saul.  And Saul was in many ways, the quid essential king.  He was tall, handsome, a leader.  But, he did all the things that God said an earthly king would do.  And he showed himself unworthy of the crown that rightfully belonged to God.  So, God, having shown the people what happens when you demand your own way rather than pursuing God’s way, he gives them a king after his own heart, a true shepherd of Israel, David. 

When David becomes king, he establishes peace throughout the kingdom, he defeats Israel’s enemies, and he puts everything in order.  He also points the people to Yahweh, and they worship him alone.  David is special, because he points us to another king who would come later, who would be from the family line of David.  See, God promised David that one of his descendants would sit on the throne of His kingdom forever.  So, as we come closer to Jesus’ time, the expectation of the arrival of such a king was at a fever pitch.  Everybody was looking for the Messiah, the Son of David who would rule over Israel forever and ever, and bring justice, peace, and prosperity to all the earth. 

So you see now, the kingdom of God from the perspective of the OT is a forever kingdom established on the earth where a perfect king will reign, there will be peace, fighting and wars will cease, and the rule of God will be established for all time.  That sounds good doesn’t it?! 

We have to let this perspective of the kingdom of God color our NT understanding of the kingdom.  So be thinking on this as we move on to our next few passages.  And again, we’re trying to answer the question “What is the kingdom of God?”  

Let’s go to Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” 

Now, Matthew 5:23, “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” 

Lastly, Matthew 6:9-10, Jesus says, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Knowing what we now know from those OT passages, about God’s promises to king David and about God’s rule on earth, then reading these NT passages where Jesus is proclaiming this “good news” of God’s kingdom, what can we learn about what the kingdom of God is? 

Well, I don’t think you have to look much past The Lord’s prayer that we just read.  “Let your name be glorified, Lord.  May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Short and simple, the kingdom of God is wherever God is king.  It’s where God’s name is honored and glorified!  It is wherever his will is done.  It is where God’s rule and reign is firmly established.  In the beginning, after man’s sin and exile from the garden of Eden, man has been separated from God.  We’ve been in exile here on the earth.  But from the time Christ was born, the kingdom of God has been breaking into our world.  You see it when Jesus “heals every disease and affliction.”  He is the promised king, the son of David who has come to turn back the curse of sin and to lead people into his forever kingdom. 

And for a more complete picture of God’s kingdom, we can go to Revelation for that.  Revelation 21:2-4 says, “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’”

The kingdom of God is where God is king, and where he is king, he makes things right and puts everything into good order.  He turns back the curse of sin.  He establishes a righteous rule.

But wait!

That’s not the way things are now.  If Jesus brought in God’s kingdom, and if this is good news, then why do things still seem so broken?  Well, that’ll be the subject of our next episode.  Where exactly, and when, is God’s kingdom?  We’re going to talk about the already-not yet aspect of God’s kingdom in episode 13, so join us next week for that.  Hope you have a blessed week.