Sermon #86 Series: Isaiah

Title: The King In His Beauty

Text: Isaiah 33:17

Scripture Reading: Song of Solomon

Subject: Beholding The Beauty of Christ Our King

Date: Sunday Evening – September 8, 1991

Introduction:

When Sennacherib had invaded Judah and was about to attack Jerusalem, when the immense army of the Assyrians was encamped around the city, Rabshakeh was sent with a nailing, blasphemous message to Hezekiah and the people- (II Kings 18). When Hezekiah heard the blasphemies of the proud idolater, “he rent his clothes. Covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord” (II Kings 18:1). Then he called for the elders of the priests, and sent them covered with sackcloth to Isaiah, the prophet of God (II Kings 19:2-5). The people of Jerusalem had seen their king in humiliation, mournfully annoyed, wearing the garments of sorrow and humiliation. But Isaiah sent a message to the people to cheer their hearts. His message was this- “Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty.” And they did! (II Chron. 32:27-30).

There is in this text a message from God to gladden the hearts of God’s saints. There is a nobler, greater King here than Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the historical figure. But the King spoken of here by the Spirit of God is Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Prince and Monarch of the universe. We have seen our well beloved King humiliated in the days of his flesh. He was “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” While he lived in this world sorrow was his robe, reproach was his vesture, and adversity was his bread. None was more afflicted than the Son of man. When he died, he died the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross. Reproach broke his heart. He was beaten, nailed to a cross, hung up naked before a drunken mob and his religious persecutors. Men and women mocked him, plucked out his beard, beat him and spit in his face. But now he has triumphed over his enemies. Now faith beholds the King in his beauty, returning with the dyed garments of Edom, robed in the splendor of victory. He no longer wears the purple robe of mockery. He is clothed with a garment down to the foot. He is no longer wearing a crown of thorns. A crown of glory adorns his brow. Around his waist there is a golden girdle. From his side serving the keys of death, hell and the grave. And he sits upon a throne, the throne of majesty, glory and universal dominion. This is our God and our King!

Proposition:

I want to show you three things tonight.

1. The Lord Jesus Christ is our King.

2. Christ our King possesses infinitely superlative beauty.

3. There are seasons when we see the King in his beauty.

I. The Lord Jesus Christ Is Our King.

Let others if they dare, deny the Kingship of Christ. We know that he is now King of kings and Lord of lords. He is not waiting to be made a King. He is the King. And every believing heart gladly bow to and acknowledges Jesus Christ as King. It is impossible to exercise faith in Christ without bowing to his dominion and confessing him as Lord (Rom. 10-9-10; Luke 14:25-33). “Except a man lose his life.” “Whoso shall lose his life.” If Christ is not your King, He is not your Savior! If he has not become Master of your heart he is not the Savior of your soul.

The enlightment of grace given to God’s elect in regeneration is intimately connected with the Kingship of Christ (Eph. 1:17-23).

A. Christ is King by a Sevenfold right.

I am not going to enter into a debate with anyone about whether Christ is King. I am here as his ambassador to declare his dominion (Acts 2:36). The Lord Jesus Christ sits upon the throne of universal dominion and holds the reins of universal government by right.

1. Royalty belongs to Christ by God’s decree (Ps. 45:6-7; 110:1; Isa. 9:6-7).

2. Christ is King of the Universe by right of his own Godhead.

Who should be King but God? And since Jesus Christ is very God of very God it is right for him to rule the world. And rule it he does in total sovereignty.

3. Christ has the right to reign over all creation because he is the creator of all things (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-18).

If the Son of God has made us and fashioned us, shall he not rightfully command us?

4. Christ rules all men by right because he is the Preserver of All Men.

By him all things consist. He is in this sense “The Savior of all men, especially of those that believe” (I Tim. 4:10).

5. Christ is King by right of Mediatorial Accomplishments (Ps. 2:8; John 17:1-4; Rom. 14:9). Psalm 24:7-10!

6. Christ is King by right of Conquest (Ps. 68:18-20).

7. And Christ is King by Popular Will.

All the citizens of his Kingdom want him to be their King!’

The Lord God promised his Son that he would give him a portion with the great

and that he would divide the spoil with the strong. We are that spoil! We are the

trophies of his victory! We are the treasure for which he laid down his life, that he might redeem us unto himself!

B. Be sure you understand what Christ’s Kingship involves.

1. With regard to the world – Total Dominion (John 17:2).

2. With regard to his people – Salvation and Security – Submission!

3. With regard to his church – Christ is our Only Lawgiver!

· His Word is our only Rule of Faith and Practice. Not the Creeds – Not the confessions- Not the Denomination.

· His Authority is the Authority by which we operate.

· We must willingly bow to and obey him alone (John 2:5).

· Christ our King is Christ our Captain. He will fight for us and defend us. “The battle is the Lord’s!”

We sincerely and cheerfully acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our King.

II. Christ our King Possesses Infinitely, Superactive Beauty.

Thomas Brooks, the Puritan, wrote of our King – ‘Christ is lovely, Christ is very lovely, Christ is most lovely, Christ is always lovely, Christ is altogether lovely.” We sing of our Beloved, “He is altogether lovely!” (Song. 5:16).

There is a natural beauty that belongs to Christ, for he is God. Who is more beautiful than God, who is “glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?’ And there is a natural beauty in “Christ as man. He is manhood in perfection! There is also a natural beauty in Christ, the God-man. But the beauty referred to in our text is not that of his nature and character. The beauty, the glory, that Isaiah is talking about is the beauty and glory of his office and portion as King.

Hezekiah was a man of beautiful character when he wore the garments of humiliation. But God promised the people that they would see him in the beauty of his royal position. Even so, the promise of our text is that God’s elect shall see Christ in his royal beauty and glory as their King.

A. Our savior had this beauty and glory, the beauty and glory of total dominion as king originally - (John 17:5).

He who is the eternal God is the eternal King by incontestable right. He who is the express image of the Father’s Person and the unrightness of his glory was rich in glory. But for our sakes he cast off the beauty that originally belonged to him (II Cor. 8:9).

· His Incarnation!

· His Humiliation!

· His Obedience!

· His Death!

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,

The Prince of Peace who groaned and died;

Worthy to rise, and love, and reign,

At His Almighty Father’s side.

B. Today, our King wears the Crowns of Glory and Beauty as our Mediator-

“On His head were many crowns!” (Rev. 19:12).

Christ Jesus wears the crown of…

1. A Conqueror who has vanquished every foe. “More than conqueror.”

2. A Prince who can never be defeated or overthrown.

3. A Master who has the heart allegiance of all his servants.

4. An Intercessor who can never fail.

5. A Brother who is full of love.

6. A Forerunner who holds his heritage for another.

7. A God whose purpose is sure, whose dominion is unfailing.

“We see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus,

…crowned with glory and honor!” (Heb. 2:9).

III. There are seasons when we see the King in his Beauty.

The King does not stroll through the streets in public view every day. He does not always appear to men, wearing his royal apparel. The King reveals himself to whom he will, when he will (Song. 2:9, 14). And there are seasons when we all, that is all who believe, all God’s elect, shall see the King in his beauty. This is God’s promise to his people – “Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty.

A. At the Appointed Time of Love and Grace - “Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty.”

· Ezekiel 16:6-8 – When we were dead and polluted!

· Galatians 1:15-16 – When we were on our road of rebellion!

· II Corinthians 4:6 – When we were darkness!

B. When he brings you into His Banqueting House and His Banner over your Love! (Song. 2:4) – “Thine eyes shall see the King in her Beauty!’

It is one thing to come to the house of God. But it is something else again to come to the house of God upon the arm of Christ, leaning on the King, escorted by the King. Then, “Thine eyes shall see the King!”

1. In the Ordinances

· Baptism

· The Lord’s Supper.

2. In the Preaching of the Gospel.

3. In All the Work that He Has Done!

· His Everlasting Love.

· His Covenant Engagements.

· His Blood Redemption

· His Sovereign Providence.

· His Glorious Intercession.

· His Saving Power.

At such blessed times, when your eyes behold him, your ravished soul wants nothing to interfere with your blessed communion (Song. 2:4-7).

C. In Your Private Contemplations – “Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty!”

Perhaps, more than at any other time, we clearly see our Savior when he comes to restore to us the joy of faith.

· David (Ps. 73).

· Peter (John 21).

· Thomas (John 20).

D. When you are about to leave this world – “Thine eyes shall see the King!” In his beauty and glory, you shall see him!

“I see Jesus standing at the right hand of God!” – Stephen.

E. When he comes to Judge the World – “Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty.” (Acts 27:31).

In that day, every eye shall see him, every knee shall bow to him. And every tongue shall confess him (Rev. 1:4; Phil. 2:9-11). But we shall see him as he is (I John 3:2).

F. When he presents His Ransomed Bride, His Kingdom, His Church to the Father- “Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty!” (I Cor. 15:24-28).

G. Throughout The Endless Ages of Eternity – “Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty!”

Heaven is seeing Christ – In His Beauty – I think the bliss of heavenly glory shall be the blessed, ever expanding vision of Christ’s glory.

· His Person

· His Providence

· His Grace

Application:

Spirit of God, help us now to see the King in His Beauty.

· Cause sinners here to see him in the beauty of redemptive grace.

· Cause us now to see him in the Bread and Wine.