A True King

King T’Challa was the rightful king of the fictional nation of Wakanda. But a usurper, Killmonger, appeared to kill the good king and rule the land with vengeance, hatred, and a thirst for world dominance. The people of Wakanda were resigned to their bitter fate, but King T’Challa—the Black Panther—was not in fact dead and returned to claim his throne. Wakanda, filled with hope and gratitude for deliverance, determines to help other nations build a better world under the leadership of their true king.

The final chapter of 2 Chronicles recounts the sad end of Judah’s final kings. One by one they fall prey to the external enemies of Egypt and Babylon and the internal sins of rebellion against God. But even in this dark chapter, notice three grace notes shining through.

First, God kept His promise to Josiah to delay His judgment—but now He was fulfilling His word given through the prophetess Huldah (34:22–28). Second, God continued to send prophets and messengers to call His people to repentance (vv. 12, 15). Though the people did not listen, God did not abandon them, and He promised that their exile would be limited (v. 21). Third, God would work through the Persian king Cyrus to restore His people (vv. 22–23).

The hope for Judah no longer lay in their kings, all of whom now abandoned righteousness and pursued evil. But God would still be faithful to His promise that their true King would come from the line of David. Our hope today rests in the return of the King of all kings—Jesus Christ. He will be faithful to His Word to provide a Sabbath rest for His people in His kingdom to come.

Pray with Us

Praise God for His continued faithfulness through your own journey. Thank Him because He continues to lead and strengthen His people, drawing them into fuller and deeper commitment to Him.

BY Dr. Eric C. Redmond

Dr. Eric C. Redmond serves as a professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and as associate pastor of adult ministries at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Ill. He is married to Pam and they have five children. He is the author of Say It!  Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition (Moody Publishers), Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men's’ Questions about the Church (Crossway), a commentary on Jonah in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series (B&H Publishers), and a study guide on Ephesians in the Knowing the Bible series (Crossway).