For the Lord is a great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:3 NLT When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. A just king gives stability to his nation Proverbs 29:2,4 NLT
Come, Thou Almighty King
Come, Thou Almighty King, Help us Thy name to sing, Help us to praise; Father! all-glorious, O'er all victorious, Come, and reign over us, Ancient of Days. Come, Thou Almighty King (v1), AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Presidents, kings, and other ruling officials should be honored and prayed for. So wrote the apostles Peter and Paul, who lived under the Roman emperors. But we must never forget that the King of kings and Lord of lords deserves our ultimate honor and complete allegiance.
This hymn appeared anonymously in George Whitfield's Hymn Book, published in 1757. It is usually attributed to Charles Wesley, but was probably published anonymously for a good reason. Scholars think Wesley wrote this hymn as an imitation of the English national anthem, "God Save Our Gracious King." The national anthem had just been written, and it had become popular throughout England. This hymn may have been Wesley's way of keeping priorities straight.
Whether the author was trying to remind us that there is an almighty Kind greater than any earthly ruler, or whether he was simply writing it as a special hymn for Trinity Sunday, it is a grand and noble hymn praising our sovereign Lord.
adapted from The One Year® Book of Hymns by Mark Norton and Robert Brown, Tyndale House Publishers (1995), entry for February 24
Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House