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Who Put You In Charge?

God Did, So Act Like An Owner

PREVIEW: Hopefully, you are giving great care to creation like a partner rather than a hireling. Hopefully, you have an ownership mentality. Hopefully, you take seriously the calling of stewardship that God has given you over everything he created. You see, he has put you in charge of quite a bit — and he is counting on you to steward it wisely. So, when it comes to God’s creation, don’t let the crazies and radicals hijack the environmental movement. Christians ought to lead the way with a commonsense approach to loving the earth. When it comes to your body —  yet another part of God’s amazing creation — treat it like the temple of the Holy Spirit, because it is. And when it comes to your inner being, tend to it often. Make sure you are doing regular soul work because one day it will return to its Creator. God has given you the keys to his shiny universe — the macro, the micro, and the personal. Steward it well!

Who Put You In Charge

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 8:4-6

What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority.

In comparison to the overwhelming vastness, magnificence, complexity, wonder, and beauty of the universe — that which we see through both the telescope as well the microscope — humanity seems so insignificant. Yet the Sovereign God created the human race and gave people co-rulership over his creation. He put us in charge!

Imagine that! God has entrusted us with the work of his hands. We are to manage his resources, tend to his investment, and supervise the things he so lovingly and purposely crafted out of nothing. We are to guard, preserve, and even increase what is so precious to him. We have been given stewardship of all creation.

Why did God do that? Only God knows. But when you think about it, it is both humbling and sobering that God has sovereignly placed this weight of glory upon my shoulders—and yours.

That, then, begs the question: How are you doing taking care of God’s universe? How are you tending his environment — Planet Earth? What is your attitude toward things created — stuff? And what about you, God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10), how are you caring for yourself — spirit, mind, soul, and, yes, even your body?

Hopefully, you are giving great care to all these things like a partner rather than a hireling. Hopefully, you have an ownership mentality. Hopefully, you take seriously this calling of stewardship God has given you. Perhaps a great companion chapter for you to consider would be Matthew 25, where Jesus teaches about the parable of the talents.

God has put you in charge of quite a bit — and he is counting on you to steward it wisely. So, when it comes to God’s creation, don’t let the crazies and radicals hijack the environmental movement. Christians ought to lead the way with a commonsense approach to loving the earth. When it comes to your body, treat it like the temple of the Holy Spirit — because it is. And when it comes to your inner being, tend to it often. Make sure you are doing regular soul work because one day it will return to its Creator.

Yes, God has given you the keys to his shiny universe — the macro, the micro, and the personal. Steward it well!

My Offering of Worship: When you contemplate the stewardship God has given to humanity, co-rulership, if you will, try to grasp the divine nature in which God has allowed you to partake. He has shared his authority (“rule over it” Gen 1:26-28, 2:15), sovereignty (“name all the animals” Gen 2:19-20), and creative power (“multiply and fill the earth” Gen 1:28). Once you begin to understand what God has done for you, you might want to fall on your face before God and humbly thank him!

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The Only Critic Who Counts Is Your Biggest Fan

Let God Be the Judge of Your Life

PREVIEW: Critics and criticism abound—in every age and in every place. King David has critics; they were the inspiration for many of his psalms. Even Jesus, the most pure and perfect person who ever lived, had critics who accused him of gluttony, drunkenness, a traitor, a blasphemer, you name it. You will have critics, too. Whenever your critic shows up and starts shooting arrows your way, rather than spending too much of your precious energy on them, go to God. He is the only one who truly knows you, and at the end of the day, it is his evaluation that matters. You might say that God is the only Critic who matters, and that Critic is your biggest fan.

The Only Critic Who Counts Is Your Biggest Fan — Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 7:10-11

God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day.

No one is exempt from criticism. King David wasn’t. In the case of this chapter, a guy named Cush is identified as one who was standing in judgment over David. We don’t know much about Cush, except that he was from the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe of King Saul. So, we can surmise that Cush was harboring resentment that David had replaced Saul as king in the eyes of not only the people but in God’s eyes. His list of grievances would likely have included that David has acted seditiously against the house of Saul and, therefore, against Israel’s government. But even though his accusations were false — David had done none of what Cush was claiming — and even though he didn’t have much influence, he really got under David’s skin. In this case, David was pure.

Now, it is important at this point to remember that even the pure motives of the most perfect person who ever lived, Jesus, were often misunderstood, resulting in malicious criticism:

• They called Jesus a glutton (Matt. 11:19, Luke 7:34)
• They called him a drunkard (Matt. 11:19, Luke 7:34)
• They criticized his association with sinners. (Matt. 9:11, Mark 2:16, Luke 5:30)
• They called him, worst of all a Samaritan, a racial slur, inferring that he was selling out to the enemy. (John 8:48)

The point is, critics abound, in every age and in every place. Maybe you face a critic, too. It could be that you have one at work, or at church, or perhaps you face one even at home — the one place that ought to be free of destructive criticism. And if you let them, they will sap the strength right out of you. Frankly, their criticism hurts, even when it is way off base or even patently false.

If you have a critic nipping at you right now — and if you don’t, stick around for a while, you’ll have one soon enough — I would recommend you do what David did. He ordered his life by the true and only Critic who mattered, entrusting himself to God’s righteous judgment and sin-covering grace.

Whenever your critic shows up and starts shooting arrows your way, rather than spending too much of your precious energy on them, go to God. He is the only one who truly knows you, and at the end of the day, it is his evaluation that matters. Learn to pray David’s prayer from Psalm 139:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Pray that prayer humbly and honestly before God, listen and respond to his voice, and you will be just fine. By the way, this Critic is your biggest fan!

As the Apostle Paul, wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:3-4, “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.”

So, do your best to walk in integrity, and let God be the judge of your life.

My Offering of Worship: If you are suffering under the barrage of the critic, spend extra time this week reading and meditating on Psalm 7, then turn David’s words into a prayer to the Righteous Judge. And for extra credit, listen to this song, He Will Hold Me Fast, which has become one of my favorite modern hymns.

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Prayer Therapy — It Really Works

It Will Transform Your Perspective

PREVIEW: As you read through Psalms, you will often see how David was downcast because of the challenges of dire circumstance, difficult people, and personal failure. Just like you and me, he faced the gritty, raw reality of life, and sometimes it seemed that he just couldn’t catch a break. But in those psalms, you will notice that the more David pours out his heart honestly before God the more his spirit begins to lift by the end of the psalm, and before you know it the reality hits David that his life is squarely in the hands of his loving Father — where it has been all along. That will happen for you, too!

Prayer Therapy

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 6:6-9

I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies. Go away, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer.

There are times, to be quite honest, when life stinks. Satan attacks, or people say vicious things, or circumstances threaten to sink your ship, or sin weighs you down, or your body breaks down — or all of the above. It is in times like these that, understandably, you just don’t have a positive outlook on life.

So, the question is, what do you do about it? Well, you can just grit it out. Or you can talk to caring people who will encourage you. You can pay a therapist to listen to how bad life is for you. You can hire a personal coach to walk you through it. Those aren’t necessarily bad options.

But the most effective therapy is prayer! And best of all, it’s free. It won’t cost you a thing, except your time and your honesty before God.

David was in quite a pessimistic state of mind. Something was happening that he couldn’t fight his way through. He was down and he despaired of life itself. He spent sleepless nights and soaked his pillow with tears of anguish, with no relief in sight. But David prayed. That’s what David did — a lot!

As you read through Psalms, you will often see how David was downcast because of the challenges of dire circumstance, difficult people, and personal failure. Just like you and me, he faced the gritty, raw reality of life, and sometimes it seemed that he just couldn’t catch a break. But in those psalms, you will notice that the more David pours out his heart honestly before God the more his spirit begins to lift by the end of the psalm, and before you know it the reality hits David that his life is squarely in the hands of his loving Father — where it has been all along.

Had David’s circumstances suddenly changed? Not necessarily. What had changed was David’s perspective. That’s what honest prayer does. David had suddenly come to the realization yet again that through the therapy of prayer, he had received a perspective better than the one he had brought to God at the beginning of his prayer. He had received the healing gift of being in the very presence of God.

That’s always the gift of prayer, by the way: Just spending time in God’s presence. And it is always the best answer to prayer: Prayer itself.

That’s what prayer will do for you, too. It’s the best therapy!

My Offering of Worship: If you are under duress, feeling overwhelmed and alone, depressed, even despairing of life, go to God. Pour out your heart. Tell him everything … and don’t leave anything out, even your disappointment with he is handling your life. I have a feeling after you wrestle with him for a while, you will see that your wrestling is really being help in his strong, capable, loving arms.

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First Things First

Learn To Practice the Presence of God

PREVIEW: King David was a man who had truly learned to practice the presence of God. First thing each day, he lifted his voice to God, and before he did anything else, he waited for a reply (that’s what Psalm 5:2 means when it says, “and will look up”). But that was also the last thing David did when he hit the sheets at night. He prayed in Psalm 119:62, “At midnight I will rise to give you thanks.” Perhaps that’s the reason why David was known as “a man after God’s own heart.” What do you suppose would happen if you took on David’s practices? Maybe you would develop that kind of heart after God, too!

First things first — Psalm 5

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 5:3 (NKJV)

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

What is the first thing you do when the alarm clock rings, awakening you to another day full of exciting possibilities and challenging demands? Perhaps you are one of those who rolls over and mumbles, “Good Lord, morning!” Or maybe you are the type who pops up with delight and expectation by greeting the One who gave you the gift of yet another day with, “Good morning, Lord!”

It is obvious as you read Psalm 5 that King David was of the latter variety. Not that he was an overly optimistic person — in fact, much of David’s life was lived by keeping one step ahead of death. But he had come to appreciate the presence and protection of God so much that much of his waking moments were spent connecting with his Lord. David was a man who had truly learned to practice the presence of God. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why David was known as “a man after God’s own heart.” What do you suppose would happen if you and I took on David’s practices? Maybe we would develop that kind of heart after God too!

What is the first thing you do when the alarm clock rings, awakening you to another day full of exciting possibility and challenging demands? Perhaps you are one of those who rolls over and mumbles, “Good Lord, morning!” Or maybe you are the type who pops up with delight and expectation by greeting the One who gave you the gift of yet another day with, “Good morning, Lord!”

Obviously, David was of the latter variety. Not that he was an overly optimistic person — in fact, much of David’s life was lived by keeping just one step ahead of death. But he had come to appreciate the presence and protection of God so much that most of his waking moments were spent connecting with his Lord.

David was a man who had truly learned to practice the presence of God. First thing in the morning, David lifted his voice to God — and before he did anything else, he waited for a reply (that’s what he means when he says, “and will look up”). But that was also the last thing David did when he hit the sheets at night. He prayed in Psalm 119:62, “At midnight I will rise to give you thanks.”

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why David was known as “a man after God’s own heart.” What do you suppose would happen if you and I took on David’s practices? Maybe we would develop that kind of heart after God too!

Let me suggest a 30-day trial—that the last thing you do when you go to bed is to recount as many things as you can think of for which you are grateful, and the first thing you do when you arise in the morning is to lift your voice to God with gratitude that he has given you the gift of another day.

To give thanks is one of the highest callings we have and one of the most self-benefiting things we can do. Think about this: Even sitting where you are reading this devotional is a cause for thanksgiving to God. The prophet Jeremiah declared in Lamentations 3:22, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.”

G. K. Chesterton would say at the end of the day, “Here ends another day, during which I have had eyes, ears, hands [to experience this] great world around me. Tomorrow begins another day. Why am I allowed two?”

Chesterton, Jeremiah, and David had the perspective that all of life was a gift from God. You and I out to practice that perspective, too, every morning and evening for the next month. I have a feeling that the discipline of thankful prayer will turn into the delight of thankful prayer long after those 30 days are up.

My Offering of Worship: Try this 30-day trial: Make the last thing you do when you go to bed recount as many things as you can think of for which you are grateful, and make the first thing you do when you arise in the morning lifting your voice to God with gratitude that he has given you the gift of another day. You may want to set an appointment on your calendar for your morning time with your Heavenly Father.

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The Antidote to Anger

When Angry, Engage Your Brain

PREVIEW: Everyone gets angry. You, me, everyone. So, since God expects us to control the emotion of anger when it arises and use it for good, how can we become skilled at managing this common yet potentially destruct response? Well, the strongest antidote to uncontrolled, destructive anger is your ability to be rational because destructive anger is stupid. King David’s answer for anger that doesn’t lead to sin was, “When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” That is, rather than venting, be still, be silent, count to ten, and allow your brain the opportunity to do what it does best — to think! In other words, count the cost to the people you will damage, to the damage it will cause to God’s kingdom, and the damage it will cause to your relationship with God.

The Antidote to Anger, Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 4:4

In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.

You and I have a lot in common. Really! Not only are we incredibly intelligent, unbelievably likable, and unusually humble, we have a very large capacity for anger.

Have you experienced that capacity for anger lately? Have you found yourself snarling at those TV “talking heads” when they pushed your political hot button this week? Have you experienced any mental road rage lately? Did you wake up grumpy this morning and snap at the kids or come home tired and verbally abuse your dog? No? Perhaps you are the one person on Planet Earth that had an anger-free week, and you really don’t need to read this blog.

The truth is that we all experience anger. Anger is a God-given capacity that is common to humanity. In fact, you don’t have to read very far into the Bible to realize that God gets angry. Jesus got angry, too, and ran some moneychangers out of the temple. The Apostle Paul taught that it was possible to “Be angry and not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26)

So, anger is not the problem. It’s when we mishandle anger—that’s the problem. Uncontrolled and unredeemed anger leads to unhealthy families, fractured relationships, lost jobs, damaged reputations, and worse. And the Bible is very clear that we had better learn to control and channel that anger appropriately or not only will we cause some irreparable damage in the here and now, but in the “there and then,” we will have to stand before a righteous God to give account for our unrighteous anger.

Jesus said, “I tell you anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:22)

James said, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” (James 1:20)

The Apostle Paul warned, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” (Eph 4:31)

So, obviously, anger can be a real problem, both before God and in human relationships.

Given that it is a potentially destructive emotion, here in this psalm, King David described what is arguably the most effective way to manage our anger. And what he is recommending is — get this — to practice the rare art of “thinking” when emotions begin to give rise to anger. Seriously, the best antidote to inappropriate anger is to simply think it through … to bring that emotional response of anger, which can obviously be quite unintelligent, into the realm of intelligent thought.

The strongest antidote to uncontrolled, destructive anger is your ability to be rational because destructive anger is stupid. That’s why David’s answer for anger that doesn’t lead to sin was, “When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” That is, rather than venting, be still, be silent, count to ten, and allow your brain the opportunity to do what it does best — to think!

What is it, then, that you are supposed to think about when you are angry?

First, think about your anger’s potential destructiveness to the people you care about, and to yourself. As Proverbs 29:11 says, only “a fool gives full vent to his anger.”

Second, think about how Satan wants to use your anger to manipulate you for his purposes. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Just remember, every time you give vent to anger, you are opening the vent to Satanic vapors.

And third, think about the person you are angry with. And whatever else you do, remember that this person is someone who matters very much to your Heavenly Father. They are someone so loved by God that he sent his Son to die for their sins. They are someone that he has great plans for throughout eternity. So, think about that before you let any angry words fly — and remember that to damage them is to do damage to God.

Since thinking is the greatest antidote to anger, think for a while about what Proverbs 19:11 says: “A person’s wisdom gives them patience; it is a glory to overlook an offense.”

And don’t forget what David said, “In your anger, do not sin!”

My Offering of Worship: What is your pattern with anger? Do you explode, seethe, retreat and sulk, hold grudges, manipulate, withhold love, or all the above? If you are honest with yourself and admit to misusing your anger, then confess it to God, ask for his help, then enlist the support of a trusted friend to hold you accountable for filtering your anger through the three steps offered in this devotional. And remember, I am rooting you on. More importantly, so is your Father, who offers you his help if you ask.

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In God’s Hands

The Best Place to Live

PREVIEW: There was a time when King David had to flee his beloved Jerusalem because of a coup. But he found an even better place, an oasis from the chaos of the coup. That oasis was not a physical place. It wasn’t even just an emotional state of mind. It was something much more important, much more enduring, much more satisfying — it was the spiritual reality of being cared for by the only One who truly has the power of life and death. David found refuge in the hands of God. Your life is there too, you know! Or maybe you don’t. But even if you don’t, that truth remains firm, and because of the saving faith that you have expressed in Jesus Christ, your address has permanently changed to God’s hands. It’s high time you start enjoying your new zip code.

2023-06-09 In God's Hands

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 3:1-5

Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

Where is the best place to live in the entire world? Periodically, national magazines will rate the various cities around the world for their livability — based on the city’s beauty, environmental practices, economic health, crime rate, the number of parks, the average lifespan of the inhabitants, and so on.

There are some amazing communities in this world, and I believe I live in one of them, but the very best place to live anywhere, bar none, is squarely in the hands of Almighty God. If you live there, by saving faith and daily obedience, the physical address of your residence doesn’t really matter. The crime rate and economic vitality are non-factors. The natural beauty and livability quotient are inconsequential. Even the most hostile environment can be a great place to live when the Lord “is a shield about you.”

David passionately loved the city of Jerusalem. In fact, it became known as the City of David. But there came a time when he had to flee the city, running for his life because of the uprising of his son, Absalom. Absalom wanted to assassinate his father, and he had plenty of support among the religious community, the military, and the common citizens — the very people for whom King David had provided such a good life. But they had turned on David, forcing the king to run for his life, barely just a step ahead of death, and with absolutely no prospects of ever regaining his throne and returning to the city.

Yet as David fled from his beloved Jerusalem, he found an even better place, an oasis from the chaos of the coup — he found refuge in the hands of God. Obviously, that oasis was not a physical place. It wasn’t even just an emotional state of mind. It was something much more important, much more enduring, much more satisfying — it was the spiritual reality of being cared for by the only One who truly has the power of life and death.

In another psalm wrote, “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16, NLT) David knew and relied upon the truth that God knew the exact number of days that David would live, and he would not die a day sooner nor live a day longer than what God had foreordained. And nothing could change that — not Absalom, not betrayal, not war, not poverty, not disease…nothing. God alone held that power over David’s life.

That is why, coup and exile notwithstanding, David found this world a perfectly safe place. That is why even in the midst of his crisis, David could “lie down and sleep — and wake again.” It was the Lord who was sustaining him. You just think that way, and live that way, when you understand that your life is in God’s hands.

Your life is there too, you know! Or maybe you don’t. But even if you don’t, that truth remains firm, and because of the saving faith that you have expressed in Jesus Christ, your address has permanently changed to God’s hands. It’s high time you start enjoying your new zip code.

My Offering of Worship: If at the moment worrisome circumstances have you doubting that you truly are in God’s hands, take a moment to listen to this song by Kirk Franklin, “My Life Is In Your Hands” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUMvH9v4vw

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When Fools Rule

Let God Rule the Throne of Your Heart

PREVIEW: Scripture defines a fool as one who rejects God’s rule, denies God’s reality, defies God’s moral code, and mocks God’s judgment. In Psalm 2, King David pours out his complaint against the rulers of nations who have set themselves in opposition to God. He calls them fools. By his definition, the fool is no idiot; he or she is one who deliberately rejects God’s rightful rule, denies God’s reality, defies God’s moral code, and taunts God’s judgment. And he offers those fools this sober warning: “What fools the nations are to rage against the Lord! How strange their leaders should try to outwit God, calling a summit to plot against his plan. … But God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans.” (Psalm 2:1-4) Wouldn’t you agree that we’re living in a time when far too many fools rule from their seats of power? And like me, you’re frustrated that there’s not much we can do about all the fools running around and ruining things these days — ruling in high places of government, finance, cultural influence, and even spiritual leadership. But whenever we get frustrated with all the foolishness we’re forced to endure, pause to remember that it is God who truly rules. And when he finally brings all the foolishness to its deserving end, we will have found blessed refuge in him because he rules in the most important place — the throne of our hearts.

When Fools Rule with Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 2:1-4 (Living Bible)

What fools the nations are to rage against the Lord! How strange that men should try to outwit God! For a summit conference of the nations has been called to plot against the Lord and his Messiah, Christ the King. “Come, let us break his chains,” they say, “and free ourselves from all this slavery to God.” But God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans.

In light of the times in which we live, with all the godless and foolish leadership occupying seats of power, consider these potent words from Psalm 2:4 again: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”

In Psalm 14:1, David wrote, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”

Of course, David’s idea of a fool was different than ours — and much more serious. We speak of a fool as one who lacks intelligence, direction, and sound judgment. David, on the other hand, understood the fool to be one who lived willfully in complete disregard to God and his law. He ignored God’s rightful rule over his life, expressed an attitude that aggressively denied God’s reality, defied God’s moral code, and went so far as to even dare God to execute judgment.

By David’s definition, we are living in a time where there are a lot of fools running around. In fact, many of them seem to be running our country. They are in high places of government, finance, cultural influence, and even spiritual leadership.

But as powerful, popular, and prosperous as they might seem to be, they are still fools. David’s psalm reminds us of this sobering truth: God still rules. While the fools are seated in places of power, God is seated in the only place of power that really counts. And he scoffs at the unbelievable hubris and overt rebellion of these he created and provides their very moment-by-moment breath. He sits on the real and true throne, patiently waiting for them to repent but knowing they never will.

Psalm 2 speaks of that time when God’s patience will finally come to its end, and then he will indeed execute judgment on those who have dared and defied him for so long. When that time comes, it won’t be a pretty picture. As you read Psalm 2, you will not be reading a very happy psalm.

Yet there is hope strategically placed within David’s song. This psalm of divine judgment is also a contrasting psalm of eternal optimism. Embedded in David’s diatribe is also an invitation to live wisely (v. 10 — as opposed to how the fool lives) by serving God gladly (v. 11 — contrasted with the defiant rebelliousness of sinful man) and the promise that all who willingly do will find “blessed” (happiness, favor, and eternal joy) “refuge” (a safe and secure place) in him (v.12).

There is not much you and I can do about all the fools running around and ruining things these days, but whenever we get frustrated with all the foolishness we are forced to endure, we can be reminded that it is God who rules. And when he finally brings all the foolishness to its deserving end, we will have found blessed refuge in him, because he rules in the most important place — the throne of our hearts.

My Offering of Worship: Over the days, weeks, and months ahead, when you get frustrated by the foolishness you see coming out of the seats of power that rule our nation at various levels, instead of ranting and raving, pause and praise the One who truly rules. And remember, the day is soon coming when he will dramatically institute his eternal rule.