Easter Behold Your KingSample

Day Five

Longing for a King

by Savannah Ward

Read Luke 1:32-33.

After forty-two generations of earthly kings, the ultimate King came to Israel in the most unexpected way. Jesus came and lived among His people. He was not the earthly king they expected, but an eternal King who changed everything. 

Toward the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus revealed to His disciples how He was the fulfillment of the people’s longings. 

Read John 16:33. 

Jesus was the King longed for by the people in 1 Samuel 8—a just and conquering King who went before them to fight their battles (v. 20). 

Although the people of Israel chose to trust their own plans more than they trusted God, God allowed their brokenness and longing to display their true need. God looked beyond the needs of their spoken desires to the needs of their hearts—needs that He alone could fulfill. Through Jesus, not only did God fulfill their true desire for a King, He also redeemed their brokenness and efforts to make things right for themselves with the King who came to make all things right. 

So often, like the Israelites, we trust ourselves more than we trust God. We believe we know best for our lives and attempt to accomplish victory through our own efforts. Yet God, rich in mercy, sent us a King to save us. Not an earthly king who takes, but Jesus, the ultimate King, who gives—even His own life for us. 

This humble King, born of the lineage of David, came to conquer death, go before us, and fight the battle we could not. Just days before that victory, He made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the city of kings, before an anticipating, longing Israel—and a captive, waiting world. 

In what areas of your life do you trust your own judgment more than God’s guidance? 

Is Jesus the victorious King of your life today? If not, why not? 

Pray, confessing your sin of being your own king and ask Christ to take His rightful place as King of your heart and life. 

For more of this Easter study by Lifeway Women, visit Lifeway.com.

Works Cited

1. Jared M. August, “The Messianic Hope of Genesis: The Protoevangelium and Patriarchal Promises, ” Retrieved from https://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-messianic-hope-of-genesis-the-protoevangelium-and-patriarchal-promises/ ) (Vol. 42, Issue 1).

2. Bruce Corley, Steve W. Lemke, and Grant I. Lovejoy, Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive Introduction to Interpreting Scripture, second edition. (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2002).