God Is My King

Can you declare, like J.S. Bach, “God is my King”?

“Yet God is my King from long ago, who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth.”—Psalm 74:12 NASB

Even in his youth, Johann Sebastian Bach proved to be a man of commitment and conviction. He had a strong personality, yet was always grounded by his unshakable Christian faith. His uncompromising standards sometimes led to conflicts.

We see this in 1707 when Bach, just 22 years old, accepted a position in Mühlhausen, near the center of Germany. As with most Germanic cities, the church was the center of civic life, and there were clear expectations for church music. But Bach felt governed by higher principles that could not be compromised.

He composed a cantata there to mark the annual change in town leadership. The music was a success, but no one grasped Bach’s subtle message: His one Master was God Himself. He hinted at this in his title: “God Is My King” (Gott ist mein König). Bach began by quoting Psalm 74 and only toward the end mentioned “our new government.”

Bach resigned a few months later, feeling he couldn’t flourish in this environment. It had been his intention to advance music in the divine service toward its very end and purpose, honor God, and improve the church music.

Throughout his life, Bach set standards for excellence that still inspire us. Others might disagree with his views or not like his music, but everyone knows that God was his King.
Today, declare that God is your King. Seek to bring honor and glory to Him.

Reflection Question: Reflect on what life would look like if you made Jesus King in your life.