In Jesus' response to the disciple who asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray”, the first specific request to His Father that He shared was “Thy Kingdom come”. This probably came as no surprise, as the 12 would have known from their scriptures the many references to God's Kingdom (Ps 45:6; 145:13; Dan 2:44, etc).
In the context of the Roman occupation of their land, the desire for God's rule of justice and righteousness would have been first on their lips. But they would also have remembered the kingdoms of Israel, especially that of King David, and maybe longed for a return of those times of peace and glory. But was this the Kingdom that Jesus referred to?
Man's Kingdoms
While His Father's Kingdom was clearly Jesus' intention, Man very early had intentions to establish his own kingdom, in seeking power and independence from his Creator. Nimrod was the first to claim a kingdom, named Babel (meaning confusion of tongues) in Mesopotamia. In his arrogance he tried to build a tower that would reach to heaven (Gen 10:10), though satan had seduced Adam in Eden long before this to disobey God, and to desire to be like Him, knowing good and evil.
Other Gentile kings also established kingdoms for their own power and glory, and even God's chosen nation Israel, when their judges turned from God's way, rejected Samuel (and God) in asking for a king “such as all the other nations have” (1 Sam 8:5-7).
Modern man still seeks independence from God and His Kingdom in order to dominate and rule the earth. Secular humanist powers are engaging in social engineering in many Western nations, notably in Europe1 and America2, encouraging people to reject God as their King.
God's Kingdom
So what is special about God's Kingdom, that we should ask for it to come? It has to do with authority – and rebellion, because God's Kingdom is the domain of the King, the King of kings. For all authority has been given to the Lord Jesus (Matt 28:18). When God chose a people to witness to His way, He called them to be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests (not a priestly kingdom but a royal priesthood to Him (KJV, see 1 Peter 2:9 and Rev.1:6 for believers in Yeshua)) and a holy nation - to be a priest before God with respect to other nations (as the tribe of Levi was for Israel).
This was not to rule, however, but to serve (the Hebrew word avad also means to worship), and Israel responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said” (Ex 19:6-8). When Moses and Aaron went into Pharaoh to demand that he let the Israelites go to serve (worship) their God, Aaron obeyed God's command to throw his rod (of authority) down before Pharaoh and it turned into a snake (19:10). Pharoah's magicians did the same. But then Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods (7:8-12), a clear demonstration of the authority of the God of Israel over all the Egyptian gods (12:12).
Jesus delegates His authority to believers in His Kingdom today also, if we obey the King and submit to His authority. His promise, if we will hear and obey His voice (19:5) and His Word (our shema), is that we too will be chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Pet 2:9). What blessings follow that – for others too!
This first prayer request of Jesus' disciples to their Father indicates its importance, its primacy. It is a cry to God to establish His Kingdom among disciples and then out to the world. Both John the Baptist and Jesus started their ministry with this call: “The Kingdom of God has come near!” (is 'at hand' - KJV, near enough to touch; even 'within you' - Luke 17:21), and both of them prefaced this call with, “Repent!” indicating the need for cleansing in the Presence of the Holy One.
This is the doorway into God's Kingdom - acknowledging our sin and receiving forgiveness in recognition of what God has done through Jesus on the Cross to bring people into His Kingdom of light and truth.
How Do We Respond?
“Thy Kingdom come” thus expresses a desire for relationship with the King, and to be part of the domain of the King, under His authority. God's Kingdom is a Kingdom of love. Keeping His commandments, His direction, instructions and guidance (His Torah – as Jesus correctly interpreted it for believers), is our way of showing that we love Him. They are our guide to a healthy, fulfilled, productive life in relationship with Him and with other people.
His laws guard our life and relationships, and this God alone is worthy of our love and worship (worth-ship). Anything we place as our security, as first in our life apart from Him, is an idol (wealth, power, fame, work, sport etc). For His Name is 'Jealous' (Ex 20:5, 34:14, Heb. kanna – with the just indignation of one injured). Here, 'Jealous' is part of the vocabulary of love, of One who is utterly faithful, and will not countenance idolatry, unfaithfulness or rebellion in His people.
I am reminded of a children's story ('William and Cherry') which some parents may remember. William's poor father had just one cow, Cherry, whom William loved and which provided dairy products for the family. William discovered that the local butcher, Mr McCracklebone, had persuaded his father to sell Cherry for meat, and William could not accept that. So the night before the butcher came, William released Cherry from her stall and walked all the way to London to Buckingham Palace, and asked the king for help to save Cherry from the abattoir.
The king investigated, and decided to save Cherry, and pay Mr McCracklebone the value of the cow out of the Royal Funds. William returned home with Cherry rejoicing, knowing the king's compassionate heart of love for the poor people of his kingdom. This is our Father God, our Abba, who has already demonstrated the saving features of His Kingdom – a hidden treasure, a pearl beyond price, a net full of fish, and seed or leaven that produces amazing growth, with fairness and goodness (Matt 13, 18, 20, 20 and 25) so that we might be faithful, prepared, wise and worthy for the fulfilment of our prayer – O Lord our King, Thy Kingdom Come. Amen and Amen.
References
1 E.g. The Gotthard Base Tunnel opening ceremony on 1 June 2016.
2 Waggoner, RL. Organised Humanism produces a growing anti-Christian Society. 28 February 2017.
Author: Greg Stevenson