Grace Notes // When We Were Kings Part 2
Only King Jesus is Enough
Written by Kelly Burton
Throughout the books of Kings, we see one phrase over and over – “they did much evil in the Lord’s sight.” While there were some good kings, overall, most fell short. They worshipped other gods, built idols, and made sacrifices of innocent people. At almost every turn, many of these kings went against God.
At the end of 2 Kings, we read of Josiah, sweet Josiah, who became king when he was 8 years old. Despite his young age, the Bible tells us that Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. In the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah instructed his advisors to have the temple of the Lord, which Solomon had built, repaired after years of neglect. While fixing up the temple, they found a dusty, covered up scroll with The Book of the Covenant written inside.
When the advisors read the book to Josiah, he tore his robes in despair because just then he realized how far from God the kingdom of Judah had fallen. He had the book brought to Huldah, a respected prophet known for her accuracy, to see what the Lord has to say about what is written. Huldah said that the words in the Book of the Covenant would still come true, but because Josiah humbled himself and repented before the Lord, he would be spared from the curse. The Lord would not send the promised disaster until after Josiah had died in peace.
Still, Josiah gathered all the people of Jerusalem to read the scroll. Throughout Judah, Josiah does away with all the idols and the false priests and prophets, getting rid of anything that goes against the word of God. When he returns to Jerusalem, Josiah holds a Passover celebration in accordance with what is written in the covenant. The Bible says that never before and never since had there been a king like Josiah (2 Kings 23:25).
Still, all of Josiah’s faithfulness was not enough. The Lord was still angry with the wicked things the other kings had done. While Josiah’s reverence was enough to postpone the Lord’s wrath, it was not enough to stop it. There was no king rich enough, good enough, or strong enough to fully take away the wrath of God and bring God’s people back to Him.
How did we get here?
Let’s rewind for a bit. In 1 Samuel 8, Israel asks for a king like the other nations have. Samuel prays to the Lord, who tells Samuel to give them a king, but with a warning of what an earthly king would do to them. But the people of Israel decide they still want a king - someone who will lead them and fight their battles - so they can be like other nations.
Israel was willing to trade the promises and covering of God for what they thought was earthly protection. They wanted the benefits of a kingdom without the commandments of God. And for generations they suffered under kings who could not protect them, either from other earthly kings or from the wrath of God.
Until...
Finally there is a King who can shield us. One King who can provide for us. One King who promises us life, if we are willing to accept Him.
While we know on some level the promises of King Jesus, we still try to have God’s results outside of God’s design. The promises and fulfillment of God for what we think we need: financial security, job security, relationship status, popularity, comfort. We believe we can create peace and joy, but it comes at such a high cost. As Pastor Holly put it on Sunday, in our attempts to build our own kingdoms, we create a grave-shaped prison instead.
But one King does have the power to free us from our struggles, from our prisons, from the grave. Jesus is here. Our King has come to set us free. It is time to step out and away from what is comfortable, away from our self-made kingdoms that only brought destruction.
Rise from your grave, Jesus is King.
PROCESSING
What does stepping out of your grave look like for you?
What beliefs or actions have you been keeping that are more “your way” than God’s way?
IN THE WORD
2 Kings 22:11 – 20
2 Kings 23
1 Samuel 8
John 8:36