Righteous King of Peace

We gratefully acknowledge the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ and our reconciled relationship with God. This righteousness is not a static position to be reached, but is to be lived out daily (as the second half of Romans teaches). God’s righteousness is best seen in our Lord Jesus, in whom the kingdom of God comes. He is the Messianic King from the line of David whose coming the prophet Zechariah proclaims to returned exiles in Jerusalem six centuries BC.

In a 12-line poem, Zechariah calls God’s people to shout and rejoice greatly when they see the promised arrival of their victorious King. This King is not like other kings. He displays none of the usual kingly qualities of attachment to material wealth or military power. He comes to us righteous and full of salvation (9). He is victorious, not in himself but by the grace, and in the might, of God alone. He is humble (gentle) and comes in peace, not riding a warhorse, but a donkey. In verse 10 the Lord speaks. He will take away the weapons of warfare and bring peace to all nations when his righteous King rules over his worldwide kingdom with concern for the welfare of all peoples. He will bring the peace of salvation and covenant blessings, promising freedom, restoration and hope for the imprisoned, and the uniting of God’s divided people. All this is achieved through Jesus’ shed blood, which seals God’s covenant with humanity.

This is the kingdom of God of which we are citizens. Do we live by the values of his kingdom, or do we grasp for security, significance, power or wealth like the rest of the world? What does God’s righteousness look like in our daily lives in 2014?

The King’s life is characterized by righteousness, salvation, humility (gentleness) and proclaiming peace to the nations. These are kingdom values. Do we share them?