Proverbs 27:24 For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.
Kings and queens are crowned with jewels and gold that represent the richness of the kingdom and the power that reigning monarchs have. Historically kings and queens wore their crowns as status symbols of riches to show the power they wielded and the position they held in society. Solomon’s riches were so vast and far-reaching that gold was a common commodity. There was so much gold that silver was seen as having no real value. 1Kings 10:21 All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days. In today’s terms, Solomon would have been a trillionaire and there was nothing he could not possess.
Jesus referred to Solomon as someone who walked in a certain amount of worldly glory, but that type of glory was nothing compared to the perfection of God’s creation that could be seen in the natural magnificence of the lilies. Matt. 6:29 Yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. Solomon’s crown was man-made, but God crowns His creation with His eternal purpose and uniqueness as to what creation is to do. Job 37:6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ Creation wears the crown God gives it and it reigns accordingly, displaying its realm’s richness.
When Adam and Eve sinned and were evicted from the Garden of Eden, their disobedience caused far-
History shows us that no gold crown or kingdom that was man-made was ever guaranteed to make it to the next generation. Prov. 27:24 For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. There have always been plots and counterplots to steal the crown and the perceived power that goes with it. Talk about chasing the wind. No matter how much gold the rulers wore on their heads, mankind could never escape the reality that a crown of thorns was the honest representation of what humanity truly is. All of humankind is corrupted, lost, and beggarly beings who are destined to try and gain some kind of authority that will always be out of reach because the crown man wears is made from the curse of sin.
When Jesus was crowned with thorns that so rightly belonged to us, He was at that moment humanity’s representative of all that had gone wrong in the world. Christ was being crowned the King of every sin and the evil man had lived out in his history. The crown of thorns represented all that mankind had to offer, and Jesus wore it and carried the curse of it to His death. Matt. 27:29a They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Those who were condemning Jesus and had forced the crown on His head were also mocking Him by bowing before Him in false homage. Matt. 27:29b They placed a reed stick in his right hand as a sceptre. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” Little did they know that after the resurrection of this same Christ, they would bow to the King of kings and Lord of lords who has the number of their days in His hands.
As odd as it sounds, the crucifiers were bowing to the sacrificial lamb of God, who would exchange that cursed sin-filled crown for the one that Christ would wear as the only infinite and eternal King. Rev. 19:12 He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. Those who have received Jesus as Lord, can now ditch the crown of man and wear the crown of life that Jesus has given to the redeemed. Isa. 62:3 You will be a crown of splendour in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Hallelujah! Jesus took the crown of thorns I deserved and gave me His crown of righteousness. And everyone said, “Praise The Lord!”
Rom.8:22 is one of my favorite vs. To me it is one of the most compelling verses about the New Heaven and New Earth. As man goes, creation goes. Man sinned, the earth fell, as Man is redeemed so is creation. But I actually forgot that Jesus is called the Word of God in the book of Revelation. Loved your analogy. Another great piece Norm.
Thank you, Larry. Yes, what an amazing Lord. He took our corruption upon His shoulders and within His soul and turned it around so that we could be the victors. Wow!
Amen. Thank you, Lord, and thank you for sharing this, Norm.