After Moses led Israel out of Egypt, Joshua brought them into the promised land, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. But once Joshua and his generation died, a tragic shift occurred. A new generation rose that did not know the Lord or remember the mighty works He had done for their fathers (Judges 2:10). Without knowledge of God’s character or His saving acts, they turned to the idols of the surrounding nations. In response, God allowed their enemies to overpower them, and Israel experienced deep distress (Judges 2:11–15). Yet even in judgment, God’s compassion remained. He raised up judges—deliverers—who rescued Israel from oppression. Through these judges, God exercised His kingship. He was their true King. But each time a judge died, Israel returned to idolatry and grew even more corrupt than before (Judges 2:16–23).
Samuel emerged as a judge after Eli. But when Samuel grew old, his sons—appointed as judges—failed to walk in his ways. They pursued dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and distorted justice (1 Samuel 8:1–3). This failure prompted the elders to demand a king so they could resemble the surrounding nations (1 Samuel 8:4–5). Their request was not merely political—it was spiritual. Israel already had a King. The Lord Himself ruled them. Their demand displeased Samuel and grieved God, who declared, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). Despite Samuel’s warnings about what a human king would bring, the people insisted, and Samuel anointed Saul (1 Samuel 10:1–27). On that day, Israel rejected the God who had redeemed them from Egypt and repeatedly saved them, choosing instead a man who had never delivered them (1 Samuel 10:19).
The monarchy that followed unfolded exactly as God warned. The books of 1 and 2 Kings trace a long line of rulers—some who walked in the fear of the Lord and many who did evil. Their leadership shaped the spiritual direction of the nation, confirming the consequences God had spoken when Israel first demanded a king.
Another Shot At Christ’s Kingship
After Saul’s death, David—described in Scripture as a man after God’s own heart—became king over Israel. God entered into covenant with him, promising that one of his descendants would sit on his throne and that this kingdom would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:16; 2 Chronicles 6:16). Though David died, and though every king after him eventually died, God’s promise pointed beyond them to the Messiah. Jesus, the true Son of David, came to Israel to take up the everlasting kingship—moving the throne from a line marked by death to a reign that never ends (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30). He now sits on David’s throne, ruling a kingdom established in justice and righteousness forever (Isaiah 9:6–7). In Him, Israel was offered the restoration of God’s kingship, yet only a faithful remnant received Him while the majority rejected their promised King.
During Jesus’ trial, Pilate attempted to release Him. But the Jewish leaders used political pressure, warning, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend,” and insisting that “Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar” (John 19:12). Their words implied treason, forcing Pilate’s hand. As they cried out for Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your King?” Their climatic declaration—“We have no king but Caesar”—was a tragic declaration of allegiance to an earthly ruler over God’s Messiah (John 19:15–16).
Christ came first to His own people according to the flesh, yet many chose the familiar bondage of Caesar’s rule rather than the freedom offered by the Son of David (John 8:36).
In the same way today, when the gospel is proclaimed, it is a royal invitation. The King of kings calls people into His eternal kingdom—a kingdom marked by righteousness, justice, and true freedom. He calls them out from under the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). And when people reject the gospel, they are, in essence, declaring, “We have no king but the one who keeps us enslaved.”
The King’s Works
Christians boldly declare that Christ is King. He holds all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). As He once delivered Israel from Egypt (Jude 1:5), He has accomplished an even greater deliverance for His people today. He purchased believers out of slavery to the world with His own blood (1 Corinthians 6:20). In doing so, He bore the wrath of God in their place. He grants eternal life, assuring that those who believe in Him will live forever, even though they die (John 11:25–26). He transforms enemies into children and children into heirs (Romans 8:17). Through the Holy Spirit, He remains present with His people, fulfilling His promise never to leave or forsake them (Hebrews 13:5; John 14:26). With such grace given to the undeserving, what could possibly lead believers to seek another king?
Before Israel entered the promised land, God commanded them to remove the nations because of their persistent sin (Deuteronomy 9:4–5; 18:9–12). Israel failed, lived among them, and eventually adopted their practices and gods (Judges 3:5–6). This pattern mirrors the Christian life. Believers are commanded to put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22–24). Yet the remnants of the old nature often pull them back toward former desires. If these desires are not resisted, they lead believers to seek other kings—other sources of identity, security, or approval—rejecting the One who died for them.
Rejecting King Jesus shows itself in many ways. It appears when sin becomes a habit and repentance fades, for “whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil” (1 John 3:4–10). It appears when we compromise Scripture to please the kings of culture expectations, seeking acceptance rather than truth (2 Peter 2:1; Jude 1:4; Titus 1:16). It appears when we embrace a false gospel that uses Jesus as a tool for prosperity, health, or wealth. When our minds fix on earthly things, those things become our king not Christ (Philippians 3:19).
At other times, hardship, lack, or persecution tempt us to shift our allegiance. Scripture and Church history offer many examples of those who refused to bow to any king but Christ. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not worship Nebuchadnezzar’s gods even when threatened with the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16–18). They believed God was worthy of their faithfulness even if He did not deliver them. Polycarp, the 86‑year‑old bishop of Smyrna, refused to renounce Jesus during Roman persecution, declaring, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” He was martyred by fire for his loyalty to Christ. Many others throughout church history have died rather than serve another king. May we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be ready to stand for our King when the time comes.
The King Provides
When Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah, turned to corruption, God was fully able to raise another judge for Israel—one who feared Him. He had done this before when He raised Samuel after Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, became worthless men (1 Samuel 2:12–17). Israel did not pray for God to raise a new judge, yet He did because He knew they needed one. They could have brought the matter to God and sought His will. God hears prayer. Instead, they demanded their own will—a king.
God is more than able to provide what we need. As a good Father, He knows our needs before we ask (Matthew 6:8). We do not need another king to provide for us or fight for us. We simply need to ask God in prayer. Yet many times, when things do not go as we expect, we turn to our own ways. In doing so, we turn to “other kings” without first going to the living King in prayer. Scripture says we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2). Jesus teaches the same in Matthew 7:7–11:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you… If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father… give good things to those who ask Him!”
God says in Hosea 4:6 that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because they reject knowledge. There is no reason to turn to other kings when we have the knowledge of God’s Word. Our King tells us to ask, seek, and knock. And when we lack wisdom for life’s challenges, God invites us to ask Him, who gives generously without reproach (James 1:5). We do not need another king—we need only to ask God in King Jesus’ name in prayer.
The World Should Imitate Us
Jesus describes His followers as the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:13–16). Our lives are meant to display the goodness of Christ so that the world sees and glorifies God. We must not repeat Israel’s error of wanting to resemble the nations around them. Instead, the world should desire to imitate us as we imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Through our example, the world should come to know our King. They should see the great works He has done in our lives and learn to fear Him. They should witness the transformation He brings and be drawn to believe. They should learn love from the way we love, for Jesus said love would be the mark of His disciples (John 13:35). They should learn service from the way we serve others.
Christians must maintain a longing for the world to receive the salvation our King freely gives to all who believe. He has commissioned us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). Every believer, using the gifts given by the Holy Spirit, participates in this mission.
Therefore, in every part of life, may we live faithfully to this confession:
We live for no other king.
We serve no other king.
We fear no other king.
We have no King but Christ.
Amen.
