The Soul Anchor [Hebrews 6:19] - April 1, 2023
King Charles III's coronation will take place on Saturday May 6, 2023 at Westminster Abbey in London. Personally, perhaps because I grew up in the American style of a Representative Republic, I’ve never been a big fan of the British style of monarchy. To me it’s obvious that you want the best person to lead and that often is not the case simply because simply because someone is in line for the job. Plus you shouldn't have to wait for a bad leader to die to replace.
In dealing with Israel, God began with a more direct leadership style in His chosen nation. Ultimately though, the nation of Israel chose to have a human king.
1 Samuel 8:1-7 tells how this came about:
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in 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.
So the Jews got their King and their Monarchy had some good years and some bad years until Jesus came. Jesus, being from the line of David was qualified to be King of the Jews but interestingly enough, Pilate seemed more interested in Jesus as King than Israel was. Jesus acknowledged that He was a King but clarified that His Kingdom was not of this world.
John 18:33-37
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
In my mind, John 19:15 absolutely has to be one of the saddest verses of the entire Bible! Consider all that God the Father has done for the nation of Israel- brought them out of Egypt, given them an identity, performed miracle after miracle to lead them and protect them. When given the choice of Jesus, the people choose Caesar as their king, in fact they say, “We have no king but Caesar. Honestly just reading that verse breaks my heart.
John 19:12-15
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
The 49th chapter of Genesis tells of Jacob prophesying over His sons and when he gets to Judah of whom the kingly line would come, Jacob makes an interesting statement – He says that the scepter (representing kingly authority) would not depart from Judah until he who it belongs to would come. The scepter and the ruler belongs to Jesus but when He came, the Jews gave it to Caesar. Still the obedience of the nations will belong to Jesus.
Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
The book of Revelation tells us the kings of the earth will make war against the Lamb but the Lamb will defeat them because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. When this happens the scepter and the staff will be back where they belong.
Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings - and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
Being a lifelong American most would conclude that I am a backer of the Democratic system or would favor a Representative Republic. But truth be told I am a Monarchist through and through and I’m not talking about the quasi-dysfunctional family across the pond. I’m talking about serving King Jesus for all eternity. Forever He will be the King of kings and Lord of lords! Make Him King of your life today.
God Bless,
Pastor Frank
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