As an undergrad, I studied political science and economics, and spent more hours than I can count learning, arguing, unlearning, and repositioning my political compass. But after four years of study, it was clear to me that there is no perfect form of government, no flawless ideology or leader.
And yet, I find myself wrapped up in the political whirlwind even now. I think, But what if the promises are true? What if this person really can make a difference? What if she or he will make my life easier, my money stretch farther, my kids safer?
It is easy to fall into the same trap as the Israelites oh-so long ago. When things get tough, personally or globally, the lure of a strong leader is hard to resist. They must have thought, What if we had a king to protect us from our enemies? What if we had someone who could make us into a strong nation?
God gave Israel a king: first Saul, then the great King David, then Solomon. Saul fought for them, David led them, and Solomon dispensed wisdom from his throne. But ultimately, these men failed, as all earthly kings do. This narrative is a rather simple one to unpack: the people asked for a king, God gave them kings, those kings failed, and then God promised to send them the real King, all of which is true, of course.
But our need for a king goes back further than Solomon, David, and Saul. It goes back to the garden, when Adam and Eve walked with God and the serpent tempted them with power. Because isn’t that the root of our desire for a king? Power. Power over our enemies, our circumstances, and our future.
From the beginning, God was wiring us for a king and setting the stage for the King of kings. He called Abraham to become the father of a nation. He called Moses and His people to a land. He gave Moses a law rooted in His character, brimming with justice and righteousness. He sent judges to call His people back to Him, to remind them of the boundaries the law provided. And then He gave them earthly kings, men whose résumés were filled with both successes and failures but who, ultimately, could never be the King the people truly needed.
In Jeremiah, during the cycle of mostly terrible kings, the prophet wrote on behalf of the Lord: “I will raise up a Righteous Branch… He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is the name he will be called: The LORD Is Our Righteousness” (23:5–6).
This was the promise, but also the deep desire, God had sown into the hearts of His people. The pieces were there: a people, a land, a just law. But the King was missing, and one day, the King would come.
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43 thoughts on "Our Need for a Righteous King"
My Dad and I were having this conversation about the current political leader where we live, and I was so frustrated and upset, I asked myself “why would God let this incompetent person lead our nation” but then I remembered our true home lies in heaven, our Real and Righteous leader of not one nation but ALL OF THEM is God! The creator of all things. He has a purpose for us on this earth right now! He can satisfy every need and he cares more for us than anybody on earth. Praise you God for your abundant love and kind heart!
There is only one true king! I pray that I follow and lean on HIS guidance instead of my own. He has the power and I’ll wait until I can sit at His feet.
This answers so much I’ve been wrestling in my own heart especialy with the current political climate. We want the government to stay out of certain parts of your lives and then rely on that very same government (person in power) to change it all.
I’m so thankful we have a mighty and just King and that he is the ultimate ruler over us, his people. For now I will work on being faithful and patient in waiting on His return. I will trust in His timing and plans.
“Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
I love this promise Nathan spoke over David in 2 Samuel 7. It’s something that I’ve been wrestling with lately. When I’m walking in step with His Spirit, the hopes, dreams, and desires that are on my heart are placed there directly by God in His kingship. He is fully sovereign over the ways of my heart. When I’m becoming more and more like the image of God, my heart is in alignment with my Father’s. His hopes become mine. He is calling us to go and do what He has placed on our hearts.
Thank you for this inspiration!!! He is so good and we have to trust in Him fully in order to live like Him!!
I pray for God to lay on my heart the truth and love of His promises
“For the Lord is our Judge … our lawgiver … our King. He will save us” (Is 33:22). We will not find lasting justice and righteousness in any earthly ruler. They merely point towards our need for a heavenly King. They are yet another reminder that our world is broken. We are broken. I am broken. We need God to be our perfect ruler – our righteous King! One day He will come and all will be right. Today we must trust and look forward in hope
Beautifully stated—and Amen!!!
❤️
This was exactly what I needed to be reminded of today. Our Lord is our righteousness
So good and such a timely reading.
Today I pray for the strength to believe that there is only one true King, and the answer to everything comes from him.
This makes me realize that, as being only human our desire for earthly possessions and power will never stop if that is all we are led by. Because God will provide that for us but we will continue to crave more . Until we learn to be content with what God has blessed us with (looking at the bigger picture; the king of Righteousness) we will continue to thirst for more, when in idealness we do not need so much.
The true righteous king
What is this House that kept on bring repeated in this reading . David was talking about a physical house for God to dwell . Meanwhile it seems to be God wanted to emphasis that He doesn’t dwell in physical houses but rather our lives , our heart , our worship.. “do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit “ – 1 Cor 6:19 . we are His house and He would build His house, he doesn’t even but the burden on us to build the house , . this remind me that our righteousness is not our own working. It is through Jesus our saviour, our king . All we need is trust and obey . Obey His law , ie love God , love man
Beautifully written and eye opening to our desire for power. Give it to God, follow Him, submit to Him. Don’t make other God’s before Him.
How can I reflect this totally in my own life? How can I not crave over eating a certain way to look a certain way? I’m making two idols there… how I need to improve and stop worrying.
This reminds me of the power struggle in marriage. Learning to submit respectfully to my husband instead of fighting him for “power.” Lord help me to be wise in submission.
I was thinking the same thing! The day my husband fell in love with me was a day I got my purse stolen in India but instead of taking charge I sat in the car praying for peace with the whole situation at hand while he worked out with the community and police to retrieve my things. Eventually everything was found but our lives have changed so much with three kids I forget to pray for peace and support his leadership in the midst of our chaos! This is a beautiful reminder of our purpose as wives and our need for a righteous leader!
And so we wait. Living out life on with the law and purpose he had provided us. Ultimately in a season of longing.
I think many people today, often myself included, don’t want a king or a ruler of any kind. We want to do whatever we think is right and don’t want others to try to take control of our lives. We want control of our own lives. I have to daily, give my desires, my wants to God – to surrender my will. I often pray, “God, I know my ways are not your ways. I give this day to you. Please help me walk in your path.” Because letting someone else lead me doesn’t come naturally.
Our King is mighty in power, full of love and grace. Thankful that He calls me to trust Him. I fail so often especially in the bending, the laying down. He is the King of Kings there is nothing He cannot do. Praise be to our Jesus, He is worthy, so very worthy. May His grace and love pour out on all those He puts in our path even when it is hard.
That’s my King…
JESUS CHRIST
Lord of Lords
KING OF KINGS!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_JcB94qRP8
If you’ve never listened to this….it is awesome!
Today, my hope is that I love my life for my King, that I honor Him in everything that I do.
David had these grand plans to build the temple for God and he thought surely that’s what God would want him to do. It seemed like a great idea! How confused must he have been when God said no. But that didn’t mean God was done with this idea, he just had a greater plan that David couldn’t fathom. So often I come up with these grand master plans that seem flawless and God lovingly deconstructs them and redirects me his way, a better way. Let me remember that when disappointment sets in because things didn’t go according to “plan.” After all, his ways are higher, his thoughts are higher than mine.
Agreed!!!
It is a desire innate in many of us to be under good leadership and kingship. I am grate for Jesus, the Kings of Kings!
“Thy kingdom come! Thy will be done!”
Isn’t he prayer Jesus taught his disciples reflecting the same sentiment?
We desire our king to:
Be above all others—“hallowed be your name.”
Provide for our needs—“give us our daily bread”
Administer justice— “forgive us our trespasses”
Lead us into the future—“lead us not into temptation”
Keep us safe—“deliver us from evil”
To that great king, be the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever!
Wow… this struck me after just saying this prayer with my kids. Our God IS the King of Kings! Thank you for this insightful post.
Amen and amen!
One day the King will come but in the meantime…am I waiting well. Am I living as a daughter of the King going about Kingdom business? Am I taking care of the last, the least, and the lost?
I pray that today I will wait and walk well.
Happy Friday!
Wow!! Such thought provoking words! Thank you!
Well said!!
Ditto Anna! Thank you for sharing this Kathy!
Amen :)
Oh yes Melanie, how we desire for someone, anyone, to make our life easier. Give us more leisure, more money, more status… More! Just give us more! We are a far cry from when President Kennedy famously said “ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” The better focus would be not the accumulation of more stuff but the development of Godly character. In our US political climate, there is less civility and more selfishness, less wisdom and more bombastic rhetoric. True statesmen are few and far between. Why do we look to them for help? Our help comes from the Lord. We are to turn to the pages of Scripture for our guidance. Without depending on the Lord first and foremost, we fall prey to doing ‘whatever seems right in our own eyes’. How we need revival! May a fresh wind of the Spirit blow through our churches and then impact our communities. May we pray for leaders to rise up who unabashedly and faithfully follow the Lord. With God all things are possible! May we repent of our personal and national failings and may God be merciful. He is a righteous King and He will judge all. The day is coming.
Amen!
Tina thank you for your words. Your words have described me perfectly. Thanks for the reminder that I have a loving Father that forgives so easily. Melanie I love your last words “Gods wrath is stayed because there is ONE who pleads for us even now.”
Amen
Amen!
A King to reign our hearts, minds, and lives.
Thank you for your rule today.
Thank you for the promise of eternity.
Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Jesus, Beautiful Jesus. Thank You for all You’ve done. Thank You for your power, sacrifice, might, and love. You lived the perfect, sinless life I could never live. Thank You for your example of how to live and treat others. Make me more like You. Please clear my mind to dwell on You and be in awe. Let me know the depths of my sins and need for You and not do the comparing thing. Help me to worship in Spirit and Truth. https://youtu.be/xU771D5AYWE As the song says,”Jesus, You change everything.”
… And come He will, and soon!
Waiting here for you Lord Jesus with my hands lifted high in praise..
For as long as it takes..
..I believe Lord God.
I believe.
..In Faith, I hold fast to your promise..
..In HOPE, i look forward..
..In You O Lord, I will put my trust..
Waiting here for you Lord Jesus with my hands lifted high in praise to you…
Thank you for the promise Lord God. Thank you..
Amen…