Promises Kept: A 6 Day Devotional From the Old Testament Covenantsናሙና

Day 5: A King and His Kingdom - Christ the True King

Deep in our hearts we long for a king. Even if you don’t live under a monarchy, you probably want to live under a benevolent ruler. You want to live in a world where righteousness and justice reigns. You want a king or leader who will look out for your best interests, and all who are under his care. The problem is, we rarely get all of those things. Like Israel before us, we are left longing for a better king. We create one of our own making and then are disappointed when he fails us.

When Israel finally got a king, hope was in the air. David had all the marks of a great king. He loved God. He led the people to love God. He even wrote much of the book of Psalms.

But he also was a murderer and a rapist. He repented of his sin (Psalm 51), but he was not the king God was looking for to rule His people. They needed a perfect king.

Then Solomon came along and he was even better than his father. He was the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 4:30). Israel finally had prosperity. They were a blessing to the nations (1 Kings 10). But there is also the sad part about his love for idol worshiping women. He lived well in his youth only to end his life with a divided heart.

Time after time, Israel was let down by a king who was not enough to lead them to whole-hearted obedience to God. He was a hard reminder that even mostly devoted is not enough to remove the stain of sin. They needed a king who was completely devoted to God, His law, and His purposes for His people.

When Jesus comes on the scene in Matthew 1, hope bursts anew. Matthew knows what he is saying when he links Jesus directly to the line of Abraham and David. He is reminding his audience of what they should know. There is a covenant waiting to be fulfilled. In the Abrahamic covenant, God promises the land and the offspring. In the Mosaic covenant, God promises a people living under His law. In the Davidic covenant, God promises that the king will come and establish His rule and reign.

And in Matthew 1, He’s here. But He wasn’t the king they expected either. He was not the king like the nations, but He was the king who drew the nations to Himself (Matt. 8:5-13). He was not the king who ruled by might, but He was the king who ruled by love (John 13). He was not the king who disobeyed, He was the king who obeyed perfectly all the way to death (Philippians 2).

In every instance of the kingdom coming, Jesus might not be the king they expected, but He is the king they (and we) so desperately need.

Read: Psalm 89:1-4

Pause and Reflect: We all long for a good king or leader. How have your expectations of a king or a kingdom been met or disappointed in your life?

Pray: Dear Lord, the nations rage against you, but your king is on his throne. When we are discouraged by kings who fail to measure up, help us to trust your goodness. No king will be enough, but the perfect King is always enough. Help us humble ourselves before your mighty hand, knowing that you will one day deal with all the kings who rage against you. Help us trust you when we are defeated and overwhelmed by the brokenness of earthly leaders. Lift our gaze to your throne and your perfect rule and reign. In Christ’s name, Amen.