We Need a Redeemer King

God is at work continuously on our behalf (Godfrey, 2017). He has a singular plan in mind for us, and if we are His, no matter what our inclination or wandering, He will choose what is best and work through us to accomplish His perfect will (Philippians 2:13 ESV). And His will for us is a simple one, as the Apostle Paul conveyed to his disciple Titus: God’s desire for us is that He would, “redeem us from all lawlessness and [ ] purify for Himself a people for His own possession, who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14 ESV).

This is proved in the life of the patriarch Jacob. Jacob’s family was dysfunctional, and this shows up in the book of Genesis chapter 27. Father Issac tried to work around God’s promise given to mother Rebekah for Jacob to be the one who would be served by his older brother Esau (Genesis 25:23). The lying and deception in Genesis 27 is amazing, as father Isaac seems to disregard God’s plan for Jacob with his attempt to bestow the blessing on older son Esau; only to be thwarted by mother Rebekah’s scheming and son Jacob’s lies. What is more amazing was how God accomplished His perfect plan to bestow on Jacob the birthright promised in prophecy. This would ultimately lead to the birth of the promised Redeemer of all mankind, Jesus (Genesis 3:15).

God is constantly performing His perfect work, offering redemption for individuals, families and many varied people groups. God also has a plan for the nations (Psalm 67:4). For some He will bless, while on others He will exact judgment (Matthew 25:31-36). Yet He also provides seasons for redemption and restoration subsequent to judgment (see Joel 2:12-27).

In the history of Israel, and then the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, God had kings on the throne who were selfish, who acted in their own self-interest and did not honor God (ESV.org, n.d.).

But then God would raise up a king who would repent of the wickedness of the former king. How do we know it was God, and not just some kind-hearted monarch? Because it is God who raises up leaders and deposes them (see Daniel 2:21). Often but not always this faithful king would tear down the altars to pagan gods; and peace would reign in the land for a time while this king stayed true to God (see 2 Kings 23:1-25 as an example). I call these kings “Redeemer Kings,” for they acted as a proxy for our ultimate Redeemer and King Jesus Christ.

But God will always hold sinners accountable for their sins, unless there is a Redeemer King Who would take on the task of repenting for the sins of the people. In the New Testament, the role of our Redeemer King Jesus was to completely pay the penalty for our sins – not only ours, but for the entire world (1 John 2:2). In the Old Testament times God had a plan to hold people accountable for their sinful acts of forsaking of His laws and idol worship through their being conquered by pagan armies. For the Kingdom of Israel, it was through Assyria (Isaiah 10:5-6); and for the Kingdom of Judah, it was through Babylon (Habakkuk 1:5-6).

There were seasons of time when God stayed His hand of judgment and did not bring it to bear on His people, as their prayers were heard, and God gave them a Redeemer King as a type of Christ, to hold off His wrath and to bring them back into His worship and adoration (see 2 Kings 23:26-27). 

We as Americans are in need of a Redeemer King-type of leader, who will bring us back to the throne of God to seek His forgiveness for our selfishness and self-determination. We have sinned by sacrificing our children through abortion; and by destroying their futures with confusion about gender and through gender transitions. We have sinned by removing God’s place in the public square, and by our lifestyle of promiscuity. We find ourselves deep in debt and adrift, only steps from involvement in cataclysmic war, and on the threshold of internal terror attacks and great civil strife.

We need a Redeemer King who will operate his government knowing that his time in office was selected and orchestrated by God. I say all this that knowing that the criticism of one of the current men running for office is his desire to be king and dictator. But of course, that is just denigrating talk from people trying everything they can to disparage the character of this man.

We would never be able to have an actual king, because we live in a constitutional federal republic, with leaders who are elected by the people. It was George Washington who was encouraged to consolidate his vast political power and influence to become king (Spalding, 2007). By turning down this opportunity, it allowed our fledgling constitutional republic to give its people the power to select our leaders. This did not prevent people with little knowledge of real issues from making what might be considered choices for leadership based more on popularity than on policy. Nevertheless, there were times in our own nation history where we needed someone to right the ship of state and to help us to renew the promise of the founding founders, who came here with God’s help and great sacrifice to found “one nation, under God” (USHistory.org, n.d.).

We need a type of redeemer-leader who can stand before God on our behalf and call us into the worship of our Great God once again. We need someone who is not ashamed of the gospel; and whose presence as the humble leader of our nation will stay God’s hand from the judgment that we deserve even if just for a season. I do not think that we will fully escape this judgment, but I am praying that for a season God will allow us to have a Redeemer King, similar to the kings of Judah, who will bring us back to the confession of God’s truth and a reliance on God’s word and His worship. We need a Redeemer King who will tear down the idols of self-interest and division, and unite us again as “one nation, under God” (USHistory.org, n.d.). This is my prayer: please pray with me.

Sources:

Godfrey, W.R. (2017). Learning to Love the Psalms. Sanford, FL: Ligonier Ministries.

ESV.org (n.d.). Evaluating the Kings of Israel and Judah in 1^st and 2^nd Kings. 

Spalding, M. (2007, February 5). The Man Who Would Not Be King. The Heritage Foundation.

USHistory.org (n.d.). The Pledge of Allegiance. USHistory.org: Historic Documents. 

Joseph J. Bucci has served as a Pastor, Author, HR Director, Director of Training, Professor and Consultant. He teaches in the College of Arts and Sciences at Regent University in Virginia Beach. He has written two books and numerous articles on the theme of integrating faith with life and our work. You can contact Dr. Bucci at: Joseph J Bucci