God save the King/Queen

The term 'God save the King', or 'God save the Queen', as we presently use the phrase, is one that is very well known to us but maybe not as well understood.

This phrase can equally be rendered: May God let the king live. See the marginal reference.

The word 'save' comes from the verb 'to live'. It is 13 times translated 'save' in the Old Testament; but 187 times translated 'live' or 'alive'. So it is quite proper to say this statement means: May God let the king/queen live.

It is the exact same word that is used by Abraham when praying to God for Ishmael his son in Gen 17:18: And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! We could even put the words into Abraham's mouth: O that Ishmael might be saved or alternatively: God save Ishmael.

There has been much celebration in our nation over recent days marking our own Queen's diamond jubilee and rightly so. Our only wish is that the monarchy would live up to its history and act as a Protestant throne. What a power for God and for good that would be in the land and among the nations if it were so!

Tonight I want us to consider this passage in which Joash, the rightful and legitimate king, is place upon the throne of Judah. This passage records the appearance of the rightful monarch who dethrones the wicked rule of an evil usurper.

I believe there are many spirituals lessons and parallels.