Shout of the King

Number 23:21

When in a stadium cheering on your favorite team there is such a powerful energy when everyone, as one, shouts in jubilee. The intensity rises as they player moves and performs. We shout with consent or discontentment depending on the action. In Hebrews 11:1 we see this same arena – the kingdom of heaven is cheering you on, affirming your obedience to Christ and steps of faith! The angels and saints of God are shouting with excitement in the faithfulness of God, speaking strength, coaching us not to quit. Learning to hear these shouts are the key to encouragement. Just as a coach would “talk straight” and remind you of who you are; the Lord does the same – he reminds us of who we are - in Him and to whom we belong. How and what we hear determine how we will think and act.

When thinking of a king - position, power and privilege come to mind. As servants are summoned to the king they submit to his Lordship and instruction and decrees are given. Imagine Christ as the King of Kings what he decrees over you! Zephaniah 3:17 says that he sings over you as he is quietly resting in His love. The King looks at you with favor and he commissions and decrees over you and gives you His own authority. You now come in His name, you represent another with all the rights, privileges and power. Privilege is bestowed not because you have earned it necessarily but because the King wants to give it. He shouts over you favor.

Mephibosheth is another tremendous example of the Kings shout in 1 Samuel 9. This young man was dropped as a baby and he was lame on both feet. He was crippled and was greatly impaired. David (The King) wanted to show kindness to the house of Saul because of his beloved friend Jonathan. Mephibosheth summoned by the king expected the worst not knowing the heart of his king. His own shout was that of worthlessness and insignificance and un-profitability. Mephibosheth was not hearing the shout of the king but was blinded by himself. King David promotes him and shouts over him declaring him a son with all the rights and privileges to sit at his table forever. Bewildered mephibosheth doesn’t understand this shout of the king, he was expecting wrath but learns grace and becomes David loyal friend in years to come. Hearing this shout created a new identity an new life (Isaiah 43:19). This is can be like us, we determine our value by what we can produce but God gets the most glory giving us what we don’t deserve – this is were he gets the most glory. The king declares those things which are not evident now as yet as though they have already come to past – in time we grow into what is He sees already! What a way to see us as the King sees us.