In conclusion, the psalm teaches that God's work of salvation and the reestablishment of His kingdom are intricately tied to His law and His governance. All attributes of salvation—protection, refuge, strength, praise—are fully realized only when God's order is restored according to His perfect law. Through His work of redemption, God is unifying all things—relationships, nations, creation—so that His kingdom might reign in righteousness, justice, and peace. The divine principles expressed in the axioms of law serve as the foundation for this divine restoration, ensuring that God's original design for mankind and creation is ultimately fulfilled in His eternal sovereignty. The psalmist teaches that God's eternal government contains within it the power to counteract and overthrow evil regimes and corrupt authorities. This is exemplified through the divine curse—God's ultimate judicial pronouncement—that acts as a weapon against evil. The authority of lawful government, exercised through the pronouncement of God's curses and blessings, is a divine tool for defeating evil and restoring righteousness. In the final analysis, the victory over evil is worked out through conflict and war, where God's law and curses are enacted to suppress and dismantle wickedness. This divine justice manifests in the death of opposition, illustrating that God's perfect law is both true and unchangeable. As God's elect are restored to their divine calling, they are given authority through life-and-death pronouncements rooted in God's law. When Adam sinned, humanity was reduced to redefining divine law according to human ideas and schemes, leading to the development of corrupt governments and societies that deviated from God's original purpose. This pattern of redefining God's law and establishing unrighteous authority has persisted through generations, ingrained into societal structures and political systems, often leading to oppression and chaos. The opening verses of Psalm 144 vividly declare the psalmist’s deep recognition of God's character and His mighty acts: "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge." These titles emphasize God's protective and rescuing nature, portraying Him as a secure refuge where one can find safety amidst chaos. The psalmist acknowledges that it is God who subdues nations and peoples under His authority, reinforcing the understanding that God's sovereignty extends over all human and worldly powers. Within this divine framework, Israel is called to uphold and enforce the original creation mandate: to protect its borders, teach future generations to uphold divine principles, pronounce blessings to invite God's favor, and pronounce curses to maintain order and justice. These divine pronouncements serve to silence crime, ensure safety within the city walls, and prevent invasion by enemies. The reestablishment of God's kingdom on earth hinges on obedience to His law and the active promotion of righteousness among His people. Furthermore, God's kingdom is not limited merely to the physical universe but is fundamentally rooted in His redemptive work in history. The process of salvation and restoration is a divine act of reordering all things back to their intended purpose. God, through His work of redemption, is bringing creation back into alignment with His original design. This reordering involves establishing His government through law—His covenants, statutes, and decrees—which serve as the foundation for unity, justice, and harmony. In doing so, God is actively restoring the harmony of relationships—between Himself, humans, and creation—so that all things function in perfect unity as originally intended. The psalmist recognizes that God's creation and governance are ordered according to His divine law—His covenants, statutes, curses, decrees, and promises. These are the foundational principles by which God rules and sustains His universe. By His authoritative pronouncements—His laws and decrees—God has granted humanity the authority to govern and steward the earth. As long as humans align their thoughts and words with God's law, they will speak truth and righteousness, avoiding destruction and chaos. The psalm teaches that the original mandate given to mankind—to subdue the earth and exercise dominion—is rooted in God's eternal government. This divine order is not merely a temporary arrangement but an everlasting framework established by God's sovereignty. The entrance of sin into the world resulted in a disruption of this divine order. In response to Adam's disobedience, God pronounced curses—not only as penalties but as judicial pronouncements reflecting violations of His law. These curses extended the authority of God's justice over creation, showing that the fall corrupted mankind's ability to govern the earth as originally intended. Before the fall, humans possessed unhindered authority, empowered by God's law, to rule as kings over creation, with divine authority embedded in their very nature. Humanity was created to mirror God's kingship, with each person called to exercise righteous dominion. In contemplating God's greatness, the psalmist raises a profound question: "O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?" This inquiry echoes the biblical reflection found in Psalm 8, where the psalmist marvels at the divine concern for humanity. Psalm 8 asks, "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" and continues to declare that God has made humanity a little lower than the heavenly beings, crowning mankind with glory and honor. This highlights the divine intention for humans to rule and steward creation in accordance with God's original design. God's chosen nation—the people of Israel—was given a special gift: His law. This law serves as the foundation for establishing God's kingdom on earth through a lawful nation. Israel becomes the means by which God's redemptive history unfolds, functioning as a divine instrument to promote unity, justice, and righteousness. The law, covenants, curses, and statutes are given to Israel to create a society that embodies God's order, functioning as a new garden—a restored paradise—where God's sovereignty is recognized and His authority exercised. God's plan for history, particularly through redemption, is carried out through human governance. By His word, God speaks creation into existence and sustains it according to His law. The curses and blessings pronounced in Scripture reflect His justice and serve to uphold or restore order. The psalmist emphasizes that God's goodness, salvation, and protection—expressed through titles like shield, rock, deliverer, refuge, and fortress—are fully realized only when God's law is properly ordered and relationships are aligned according to divine principles. When God's law governs all aspects of life and relationships, God's spiritual kingdom overrides earthly kingdoms, wielding the power of life and death through the authority of His axioms—His fundamental principles of justice and righteousness. In the incarnation of Christ, God's authority and plan for restoring human governance are reaffirmed. Through Jesus Christ, mankind's lost authority is reestablished, and the divine law is once again made accessible and operative in human history. The incarnation signifies God's commitment to restoring the original order of rule—where humans govern creation in accordance with divine law—by reuniting law, justice, and mercy. This act of salvation reestablishes the authority that was lost through sin, making it possible for God's people to exercise lawful authority once more.
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