What is the scepter of God?

One of the distinguishing insignia of royalty: a rod or staff of dignity. It was held out by the king to Esther. Esther 4:11, etc. The prophecy that "the sceptre shall not depart from Judah . . . . until SHILOH come," refers to Christ as 'the Prince of Peace.' Gen. 49:10. The sceptre is not now wielded by Judah while the people are Lo-ammi, but their supremacy will be renewed when the purpose of God is fulfilled. Many passages speak of Christ sitting upon the throne of David, and reigning till His enemies are cast beneath His feet. A sceptre of righteousness will be the sceptre of His kingdom. Num. 24:17; Ps. 45:6; Isa. 14:5; Ezek. 19:11, 14; Amos 1:5, 8; Zech. 10:11; Heb. 1:8.

In the other Scriptures mentioned, the word sceptre may not be used, but the idea behind it is there. The star is for watchers. We must be up early in the morning if we wish to see the early star. The sceptre speaks of authority and rule. Some of you may remember the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. During the solemn ceremony she held in her right hand the sceptre. This represented the responsibility of rule.

As the Star the Lord Jesus is the one of heavenly character and heavenly light, thus a star gave testimony of His birth to the wise men of the east (Mt.2:1-2). As the Scepter He is the expression of God's authority, for the scepter signifies kingly authority. This compares with Psalm 45:6: "A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom."

The thought conveyed by the word, "a sceptre of righteousness," is that of the shepherd's rod. A king should be to his people what a shepherd is to his flock. Now Christ will hold the "rod" in that day as a Shepherd King, and it will be a "sceptre of righteousness. And we shall share in His rule. But then he holds it now (though not for the world, yet) for His Church. Do we recognize this rod? Truth becomes practically blessed to us when looked at, not abstractedly, but as connected with ourselves.

(1.) The sign of the rod comes first. The rod is the sign of power — "the rod of Thy power" (Ps. 110:2) — here, as we know, in the shepherd's hands, who, as we have seen, is the very type of royalty according to God. Even the iron rod with which Christ will smite His enemies is still represented as in a shepherd's hands. In all passages, it reads really, "He shall shepherd them with an iron rod." (Rev. 2:27.) Severely as it may smite, love guides it. Woe indeed to those whom everlasting love has thus to smite!

The rod of Moses had become the symbol of the Divine authority that had been conferred upon him, and from this point we find the word used in Scripture with this significance, as, for instance, "The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou …" (Ps. 110:2). There was the rock in Horeb on which Jehovah would stand, and with the rod Moses was to smite the rock.

The rod in Moses' hand is a shepherd's rod, and exercised in divine power, as we shall see as we go through the book of Exodus. "All power belongeth unto God," and this shepherd's rod shows us how He uses it. Power with Him always waits upon love. As another has expressed it so beautifully, "The hand that wields the sceptre of the universe is guided by the heart of Him who has revealed Himself not, as power, nor even as righteousness, but as Love." The rod in Moses' hand then, is the type of divine power, exercised in the fulness of His grace in the liberation of His people from a power too strong for them.

It is evident that the words "Staff" and "Rod" do not imply "correction" or "chastisement;" whether my Christian reader take the "Valley of the Shadow of Death" for this world, as a scene of death, or for death, the hour of departure, itself. For, if applied to a believer's life in this world, it is evident, from the Word, that "Staff" and "Rod" cannot mean "correction," as many take it; — for "no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous," whatever the result may be, and therefore it could not be said in this sense, "they comfort me." But if applied to the hour of death or departure, how could we for a moment entertain the thought of Christ "chastening" or "correcting" His suffering ones at that moment? The very thought would be monstrous. "Thy Staff and thy Rod they comfort me." Thus it is clear that the meaning of those two words must be a widely different one, viz., "Staff" in the sense of "support," and "Rod" in the sense of "power and authority," as it was in the hand of Moses, when he lifted up his rod and stretched out his hand over the Red Sea, and the waters were divided, and the people walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. So the "Staff and Rod" of Him, of Whom Moses and his rod is a type, support and comfort His feeble flock, whilst passing through the "Valley of the Shadow of Death," so that we can always say, if truly leaning upon Him, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 45. 1 To the chief musician upon Shoshannim; for the sons of Korah, Maschil, a song of loves. 2 My heart has overflowed [with] a good matter; I am declaring my works to the king; my tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer. 3 Thou hast been very fair above the sons of men; grace has been poured into thy lips; therefore God has blessed thee for ever. 4 Gird thy sword upon the thigh, O mighty one, thy glory and thy majesty. 5 And [in] thy majesty prosper, ride, for the cause of truth and meekness of righteousness; and thy right hand Shall teach thee terrible things. 6 Thine arrows [are] sharpened — the peoples fall under thee — in the heart of the king's enemies. 7 Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom. 8 Thou hast loved righteousness and hated wickedness. therefore God, [even] thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy companions. 9 Myrrh and aloes [and] cassia [are] all thy garments; from the palaces of ivory stringed instruments have gladdened thee. 10 Daughters of kings [are] among thine honourable women; at thy right hand has stood the queen in fine gold of Ophir. 11 Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear, and forget thy people and thy father's house. 12 And the king greatly desireth thy beauty; for he [is] thy lord; and bow down thyself to him. 13 And the daughter of Tyre [shall be there] with a gift; the rich among the people shall entreat thy face. 14 All glorious [is] the king's daughter within;† of gold-embroidered work [is] her garment. 15 In embroidered work of many colours is she brought to the king; the virgins after her, her companions, are brought to thee. 16 They are led forth with gladness and joy; they enter into the palace of the king. 17 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy sons; them shalt thou appoint princes in all the earth. 18 I will make mention of thy name in all generations: therefore peoples shall give thee thanks for ever and ever. Or, the lilies. †That is, inside the house; as it she were still waiting there, gloriously attired, to be brought into the king's house.

Unlimited power and sovereignty are ascribed to Him who is now known and boasted in as Israel's God (verses 7, 8). The nations are called to sing His praise, with warning of the danger of rebellion; for judgment is now no longer a remote and feebly-sounding threat, which men might (as in the present day of longsuffering) treat derisively and yet remain unpunished, but God is terrible in His doing toward the children of men. He rules by His power. The sceptre of righteousness is placed for effective administration in the hand of His Anointed.