Bring Back the King!

“Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, ‘The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?’ So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, ‘Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, “Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?”’” (2 Samuel 19:9-11).

King David, himself a Christ-type, was sending a message to those with spiritual influence and authority: “Why are you the last to bring back the king?”

That ought to be the cry of all our hearts today as well — “Bring back the King!” Weeping endures for a night, but you and I have the hope that, as was the case with David, our nation will recognize what has been lost and will once again bring back the King! Bring back the King who heals, who delivers, who gives sight. Bring back the King who opens prison doors and puts a new song in every heart. Bring back the King into our streets, our schools and our colleges!

Of course, it begins with you and me — in our personal lives. We must get off our rooftops and get our eyes off things they should not be on. Where we have failed, where we have drifted or lost zeal for the kingdom of God — bring back the King! Where our heart for the lost and poor has grown cold — bring back the King! And I assure you that when the King comes home, there will be joy, dancing, and shouts of victory unlike anything we have ever known! Hallelujah!

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001.