But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom”
(Heb 1:8).
Americans—we love the grandeur of royalty. But monarchical rule is foreign to us. In fact, it was in revolt of despotism the United States was born.
But, if you are a people, and you have bad leadership (and I do mean bad), and everyone else around you has a king, what do you suppose you want, too?
When Israel’s judge and prophet Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, as Israel’s leaders. But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and perverted justice (1 Sm 8:1-22).
So, all the elders of Israel gathered together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
But when they said, give us a king to lead us, this displeased Samuel. So he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him; “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He honestly warned them of the dangers of their desire. They could expect the king to rule over them harshly. He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they insisted. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
Samuel listened to all the people had to say. Then he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
God had a King already prepared to perfection. But the people rejected God as their King. They wanted a king of their own choosing, like all their neighbors. And they certainly didn’t want to wait on God’s timing for His Messiah to be born into the world.
God gave them over to their desires—to suffer the consequences.
A total of 42 kings reigned over Israel and Judah. Only three reigned over the mostly “united” kingdom of Israel. Subsequently, 19 reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel and 20 over the southern kingdom of Judah. Each of these kings ruled only for a time. And each of these kings failed them. But to David, God promised an eternal King who would reign justly (2 Sm 7:16).
God, the Father, would pass on His Kingdom to His Son, the Promised Seed, through a covenant with the royal line of David. A kingdom the Gates of Hades would come against—and yet endure.
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end (Lk 1:31-33).The King came, born of a virgin as promised, in the days of Caesar Augustus.
He was born crowned.
The kingdom of God has come near. It is within your midst (Lk 17:21). And Jesus has been heralded its King, the Anointed One of God.
Jesus is the eternal King of Righteousness, whose kingdom will have no end.
But the crown of man was fashioned of thorns. And the Messiah of God was crucified as King of the Jews.
But heaven’s crown is the crown of God’s Glory. And He was vindicated—raised as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:16) in all majesty, power, and authority.
May His kingdom come! May every knee bow before Him—the King prepared of God. And may it begin this Christmas.