Bind their Kings

This unfortunate chap in the British Museum is the ‘King of the Nubians’ according to its inscription and dates to Egypt a few years before Christ. Nubia is what we might today term Sudan and there always was some rivalry between the two lands. Whether the statue is a stylised expression of wishful thinking, or an accurate depiction of a real king’s fate, is unknown. He is certainly bound in such a way as to cause discomfort and humiliation. Kings are known to give orders and commands; this one cannot even govern his own limbs, much less his captors’ intentions.

Many of us live like kings. We buy all the things we want, holiday when we want, adorn our houses with the luxuries we want. Our culture idolises autonomy, as expressed in the current culture wars. Not happy with your biological sex? Change it. They who appear to master their destinies today will be bound tomorrow; those who relish their independence in this life will be utterly passive and helpless in the next. On the other hand, the Christian who today yields to God’s will and submits to His authority, will find himself a king and priest, in this life and the next.

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,

And a two-edged sword in their hand,

To execute vengeance on the nations,

And punishments on the peoples;

To bind their kings with chains,

And their nobles with fetters of iron;

To execute on them the written judgment—

This honour have all His saints.

Psalm 149:6-9