ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 PULELULU MA’ASI 25, 2026

FAKAMAAU 19-21; SAAME 17:7-9

Even in the worst vacuums of human leadership, the people of God are never without a King.

Neongo pe ‘oku kaupo’uli fe fe ha pule’anga ‘i he tu’unga ‘a hono taki, ka ko e kakai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ‘ikai li’ekina kinautolu ‘e honau Tu’i.

When I stand up to speak or sit down to write, I feel as if a crowd of people stand up or sit down with me. These are all the teachers, pastors, professors, spiritual mentors, Christian leaders, writers, and friends whom God has used and is still using to form me. I am thankful for each one of them and for the lasting mark they have made on me. They have helped me to understand the gospel and to know what it looks like to teach and preach God's word, how to live a ministry-oriented life, what it means to be a good husband and father, what it looks like to lead others in ministry, and how to continue to grow in God's grace. God has blessed me with people to lead, teach, guide, and correct me. None of these dear people has been ever-present in my life. They have all come and gone, according to God's plan. But there is one who has always been present-leading, teaching, confronting, protecting, and providing. It is my Savior King. All the "kings" he has placed in my life are temporary representatives of Jesus's always faithful and eternal kingship.

The last verse of Judges says, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg. 21:25). This sad, dark, and disharmonious chorus is repeated throughout Judges. After being set apart as the people of God, after all of God's glorious display on their behalf, after God had raised up deliverer after deliverer, after all his loving protection and provision, and after warning after warning, the children of Israel are now in this sad state. Moral individualism reigns; each person sets himself up as his own moral authority. Although still a nation chosen by God, Israel now functionally ignores his presence and authority. These words should make us weep.

In this way Israel desperately needs a human king, one chosen by God to be his moral representative, not only to lead Israel in government and battle but also to call Israel back to functional worship and service of the one who had liberated them from slavery. He had given them his law, made provision for the forgiveness of sin, provided for them, and defeated their enemies. Israel desperately needs a godly leader who will lead them in a moral reformation.

But when I read this final verse, I think, "But Israel did have a King-the Creator, Sovereign, King of kings." The people of God not only desperately needed King David, a man after God's own heart, but ultimately they needed the perfect King, the Son of David, Jesus. They had the best King ever, yet they resisted him again and again and chose to be content with self-rule. No matter what "kings" are in our lives, may God grant us grace so we will joyfully surrender our wills to the will of the one perfect and eternal King, Jesus.