“You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude”
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, “
Although Psalm 76 does not mention God as a King, it paints a picture of a benevolent, saving King. It speaks of God in terms of His honor and name, both often used to describe a royal household. It refers to the seat of government as a place of residence being in Jerusalem, the City of David and a city linked to the King and the kingdom. The Psalm describes God as a military might that wins against all the defiant enemies. And God is pictured as a ruler who has authority to respond in anger and to be feared because He can judge evil and rescue the oppressed. And maybe the clearest sign of all is in verse 11 of Psalm 76: the admonition to make the vows of fealty. The vows suggested, even commanded, in verse 11 are surely the the vows of fealty. And you might ask what are these vows of fealty? Are they just a declaration of loyalty to a King? They are not so old or foreign and they still appear regularly in government today. From the official parliament.uk/ website: “Members of both Houses of Parliament are required by law to take an oath of allegiance to the Crown.” We saw a lot of this vow making and swearing in the recent coronation of King Charles the III of Great Britain. For all history it has been expected that when a king conquers another people they have two choices: to die or to swear vows of fealty, which will be backed up by tributes. In return the Crown serves the subject with order, justice and protection. I’ll not take the time to explain the extensive current international practice nor the long historical precedence. But nearly all those taking an official office everywhere will swear some sort of vows of fealty to someone or something.
Everyone knew that the new administration being rolled out and declared was the “good news” and the proper and life saving response was a vow of fealty. When Jesus says in Luke that the oppressed will be set free, He is aligning himself with the God described in Psalm 76.
MAIN POINT: Bow in humble allegiance to Jesus the Lord your God and keep the promises you have made to your King.
When I was a teenager I knelt all alone in the lobby of the Greenville community centre during the intermission of the Christian film, Sheffy. I was prompted by no one but the Holy Spirit to make my vows of fealty and allegiance to Jesus as my king. I said Jesus, I give you my whole life, I will be anything you want me to be, I will do anything you ask me to do, I will go anywhere you call me to go. I surrender to serve you. This simple act has changed and influenced everything that came after. Joshua said
“...then choose today whom you will serve. …But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."
I am currently reading a book by Gerrit Vink about Elijah called in Dutch, “Oog in oog met Elia” (Eye to Eye with Elijah). In this exciting and inspiring book that so often points us to Jesus, Gerrit focuses for a chapter on the challenge of Elijah for God’s people before the showdown at Mount Carmel.
“Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.”
What followed was effectively a sin offering.
You have been called to recant your old allegiances. King Jesus will have you bow your knee and you will confess him as Lord.
“For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.”
What are the elements of a vow of fealty to King Jesus according to Psalm 76?
Honor Jesus Christ, the Son of God’s Name. v.1
Welcome your King Jesus to live and rule where you live. v.2
Invite the King of your Life, Jesus the Saviour, to break the power of sin/enemies. v.3
Praise God above all things, set nothing above Jesus. v.4
Kill in your heart enemies of the King; all inclinations to serve yourself must die. v.5
Trust God’s power to still the enemy of sin in your life. v.6
Fear God’s wrath against sin; hate sin as He does. v.7
Find what God as judge sentenced over your sin and carry the sentence out. v.8
Join God in His mission to rescue the oppressed. v.9
Refuse to see opposition as a threat to God’s rule. v.10
Keep your vows, rehearse and remind yourself of your vows to Jesus. Make vows. V.11
Humble yourself to Jesus. V.12
Conclusion:
There is good news: Jesus has arrived as the new authority, the new administration! Everything is going to be different, so bow the knee and give your allegiance to Jesus. He rescues the oppressed.
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