All Hail Christ, the King of Nations

Rejoicing in the triumphant Light of Christmas

“And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer flow to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen.” (Jeremiah 51:44)

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When the prophets looked out on the world, the sight that met their eyes was a bleak and depressing one. Oppression sat in the place of justice, evil in the place of righteousness, lies in the place of truth, and idolatry in the place of true worship. A heavy and indeed demonic darkness blanketed the earth as whole nations were swept up in crushing servitude to false and cruel gods. As Jeremiah here tells us, the nations were “swallowed” up in service to pagan deities, “flowing” like a torrent to give tribute and worship to vain and worthless idols. The apostle Paul described the situation in similar terms, adding that the Gentiles were then “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). A bleak picture indeed. 

Into this world, however, the prophetic Word was uttered — a shoot from the stump of Jesse (Isa. 11:1), a righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5), Light for those dwelling in darkness (Isa. 9:2), restoration of the fallen Davidic house (Amos 9:11). Little by little, hints and shadows were given that looked forward to a day when Yahweh would again show mercy to His wayward bride and establish a new and everlasting covenant with her, one in which she would at last be faithful and where He would remember her sins no more (Jer. 31:34). Moreover, this period of restoration would be accomplished by a new and greater David, a King whose dominion would bring blessing, not just to Israel, but to all the nations of the earth. No longer would they “flow” to Bel in Babylon; they would flow to Yahweh in Zion to receive instruction from His lips and learn to walk in His ways (Isa. 2:1–5). Such was the sum and substance of the prophetic hope. 

Not incidentally, this is also the sum and substance of Christmas. For Christmas is, whether we realize it or not, the fulfilment of the prophets’ hope. It is the first bright flickering of that promised Light that would one day fill the world; the first great toppling of demonic darkness and idolatry. Christmas is, at its very heart, the advent of the Davidic King and with Him the dawning of that age of blessing promised long ago.

To put it another way, Christmas is the remembrance and celebration of God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises, now expressed and fulfilled in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. At Christmas, then, we look back in joy to the coming of God in flesh for the salvation of His church, and we look forward in faith to His second coming where He will abolish the darkness entirely and usher in a new world where righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13).

So this Christmas remember that the world has been dark before, and that the Light came into this world with an indomitable radiance. God was faithful to His Word and He will continue to be so forevermore. Thus, no matter how bleak things may look for a time, these realities stand true and indisputable: Christ came, Christ died, Christ rose, and Christ conquered. And He now reigns as the uncontested Lord of heaven and earth. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

So all hail Christ, the King of nations! To Him be glory in heaven and on earth, from this time forth and forevermore!

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”