“The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.”

When we think of God as a King, do we consider Him as THE King? His rule and dominion are without question. But what does that look like in practice? An earthly example, which has admirable intentions but, like all human functions, can fall short at times, is the U.S. system of government. I’m not talking about how our government runs, but rather how it is organized.  Three branches make up the system – executive, legislative, and judicial. Each is separate to help limit the power of the other, but all must function together to govern properly.

In our verse today, God is referred to as Protector (The Lord watches over all who love Him) and Judge (all the wicked He will destroy) or to keep in line with the preceding metaphor, He is functioning as the executive and judicial.  He is also the Lawgiver or legislative. Isaiah 33:22 states this pointedly: “For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us.”

The difference between God and earthly kingdoms or governments is that God accomplishes all 3 in unison and perfectly. He is the King that watches over those who love and know Him, giving them sustenance even before they ask because He already knows what we need. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).

He is the Lawgiver, whose law is liberty: “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:35). The liberty provided through the redemption of the cross motivates us to actively pursue acts of worship and love.

And what good is law if there is no judge to weigh the law and mete out justice? God is just and will punish the wicked at the appointed time: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s promises stand fast, but His patience to withhold justice now is so that all should come to the knowledge of the saving grace of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Growing up as a child in West Texas, I can recall seeing a shadow of these facets in my parents. They laid down the rules, and, when you stepped over the line, you were reprimanded because they were the ultimate authority. They reprimanded me out of love in order to protect me and train me as I continued to grow and would later be influenced by outside authorities that may not have my best interests in mind.  

In retrospect, I am so grateful for my parents and know that God’s design for family to have parents or a parent shepherding a child is critical. It reflects the relationship God desires to have with each of us as He invites us into His family, a family with broken brothers and sisters damaged by sin but restored by the act of love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He protects us as the shepherd who never sleeps or grows weary and is never limited by space and time.

Heavenly Father, I worship you as Lord and King. You have shown me mercy and grace when I did not deserve it. You showed yourself to me when I searched you out. Thank you for being there for me even when I don’t acknowledge your presence. May I revel more and more in the knowledge of your ongoing love for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!