The King the Jews were looking for

Luke 1:26-38

You will call his name “Jesus”.

He will be great;
He will be called the Son of the Most High;
He will be given the throne of his father, David;
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
There will be no end to his Kingdom. (v31b-33)

From the early days the Israelites were wanting a king. They were tired of being ruled by judges, many of whom were corrupt. The looked at other nations who were different. They had kings to rule over them.

So after many years and judges, they came to Samuel (who was one of the good judges), and said: “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:5)

God told Samuel to give them a king, because the people had rejected God as their King, but he told Samuel to warn the people how a king would reign over them.

This is how the narrative goes in 1 Samuel 8:10-18:

“Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for a king. He said,

‘This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you:

He will take your sons, and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots.
He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and
He will assign some to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.
He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even their best, and give them to his servants.
He will take one tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers, and to his servants.
He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.
He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

‘You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.'”

Because they asked, God gave them a king, but not one whose heart didn’t remain true to God. Read about King Saul and how he didn’t follow God’s command, but went his own way. (See 1 Sam 9-15).

So God had Samuel anoint another king from the house of Jesse, who lived in Bethlehem. Out of the eight brothers, God chose the youngest and least expected, David, who was a shepherd boy.

David had a sincere heart, and it says of him in the Bible, “a man after God’s own heart”. David was the real deal, and God had promised that from his line would come the “Messiah” who would eventually deliver Israel.

After David, many kings ruled, but few sincerely followed God, and at the same time most people turned away from God, which led Israel into captivity and coming under foreign rule.

At the time Jesus was born, they were being ruled by the Romans. They were looking eagerly for a King who would rescue them from Roman rule. However, when Jesus came, they didn’t recognise him as the Messiah, their promised King, as he didn’t fit their narative. He came meek and mild, from humble beginnings, and very unassuming. Not as a conquering king who would overthrow Rome as they expected.

Sadly most of the Jews missed it and are still looking for their Messiah. But those of us who know Jesus, know that he is coming again as the King of Kings, to rule forever.

Extra Scriptures:

These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)

I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. (12) His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. (13) He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.” (14) The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. (15) Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (16) He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

Have this in your MIND, which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. (9) Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. (13) I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, (14) that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; (15) which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (16) who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and eternal power. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:11-16)