Discover Your Value when You Embrace God’s Exclusive Royal Treatment
I have this thing for crowns. Years ago, we owned a Kia. I hung a metal crown from the rearview mirror. My family soon nicknamed the car, Princess Kia. In addition, I have a sign in my office that states, “She lives life in her own little fairytale.” I hung my sign from a crown, with a hook below it.
People of Value
During my season as a jewelry lady, I crowned each jewelry party hostess as queen for the evening. Then I passed out small mini tiaras for everyone else to wear and declared them all princesses. I took advantage of an opportunity to remind those precious ladies they had great value.
Personally, I’ve thought of myself as royalty for a long time. After all, I am a child of God who is the Sovereign King. Scripture confirms our royal position by naming Jesus as King of Kings, and we are co-heirs with Christ (Revelation 17: 14; Romans 8:15-17).
The Royal Treatment
God in His grace and love gives us the Royal Treatment. He acts toward us as if we are extremely important people. His attention toward us is elaborate and devoted.
The Psalmist in Psalm 103 presents this royal treatment as a reason to praise the Lord with our entire being. I found it curious that God offers us such grand consideration when the Psalmist admits we are dust (Psalm 103:14-16) and therefore not worthy of the Royal Treatment.
What is God’s Royal Treatment?
You might be wondering what this Royal Treatment includes. In Psalms 103:1-5, the Psalmist lists benefits we receive, kind deeds from God Himself. God gives forgiveness, healing, redemption, love and compassion, satisfied desires, and renewal.
Later in Psalm 103, we also learn God doesn’t treat as we deserve (Psalm 103:10). The Psalmist informs us God removes our faults and sin and doesn’t hang them over our heads (verse 12). In addition, the King Himself loves us immensely. In fact, He loves us like a doting Father in spite of the fact that He is fully aware of our material value.
The Royal Treatment includes a Crown
My favorite part of Psalm 103 however is that we receive a crown. In verse four, the Psalmist provides a picture of the crown we receive.
“He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion.”
Psalms 103:4, CSB
What does it mean to be Crowned?
The Bible Knowledge Commentary tells us “…crowning suggests bestowing a blessing.” In addition, The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology informs us when someone receives a crown, he or she is set apart for a particular task or role. When anyone wears a crown, they reveal their exalted position. Plus, the resource, Commentary of Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible associates crowning with being a victor.
The actual Hebrew word used in Psalms 103:4 is ‘ātar. When one examines the Biblical usage, one learns it means to surround, or to crown, or give a crown. Strong’s definition states, “to encircle (for attack or protection); especially to crown (literally or figuratively).”
In verse four, “He” refers to the LORD, or in Hebrew, Yahweh, God’s proper name. Yahweh, or the “I AM” redeems us from the pit; God moves us from death to life. God then punctuates our victory with an exclamation point of love and compassion.
What the Crown Represents
When we examine Psalms 103:4 and then verse eight, we see the LORD crowns us with the very characteristics that exemplify who He is. God encircles us with His nature and sets us apart with His presence. He exalts us to a position of favored child, a victor worthy of the Royal Treatment.
We are made from dust. Our lives are here and then gone in a flash just like Psalms 103:14-16 tell us. However, God in His love and mercy says He will surround us with who He is. He sent His Son to cover our sins and redeem us. By the grace of Jesus, we receive all the benefits of Royalty to the praise of God the Father.
Accept the Royal Treatment
You may look around your house, your car, your life and not feel like royalty. However, you ARE a prince or princess of the King. God has crowned you with and compassion. He blesses you with the Royal Treatment.
We have the choice to embrace the Royal Treatment or push it aside. We choose whether or not we want to wear the crown God willingly, lovingly, and graciously offers us. Go ahead, step into your royal role! Live into the benefits of being a child of the King and be grateful.
Crown Photo by Church of the King on Unsplash
