Do you not need a mighty King? Who can bring order into your chaos? You can’t; no one else can but God. Who can subdue your unruly passions and regulate your anarchic thoughts? You can’t; no one else can but God.

I will be your king.— Hosea 13:10

Who wants to be a King of self-destroyed people? God does. Who wants to be King of people who consistently rejected Him and chose many inferior kings? God does.

“O Israel, you have destroyed thyself; but in me is your help. I will be your king: where is any other that may save you in all your cities? and your judges of whom thou said, Give me a king and princes?” (Hos. 13:9–10).

He does not say, “You have achieved a lot, therefore I will be your king,” but, “You have destroyed yourself, therefore I will be your king.”

He does not say, “You have chosen me to be your King, therefore I will be your King,” but, “You have rejected me, therefore I will be your king.” What grace and favor!

Do you not need a mighty King? Who can bring order into your chaos? You can’t; no one else can but God. Who can subdue your unruly passions and regulate your anarchic thoughts? You can’t; no one else can but God.

And yet, how much you resisted, didn’t you? Do you remember how many times you said, “I will not have this man to reign over me?” How many times the King drew near, and you said, “I will be king.” You resisted and rejected with all your might.

But then the day came when you heard with irresistible power, “I will be your King, I will be your King.” Your will bent, broke, and at last surrendered. You fell down in your soul and said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” You worshiped and said, “O Lord, you are my God and King, you will I magnify and praise.”

And what a King He has been to you! Has He not guarded you? Has He not led you in many spiritual victories? Has He not brought you into His banqueting house and His banner over you was love? Do you not look forward to the day when you arrive in His heavenly Kingdom and He will say, “I am your King”?

Remaining rebels, lay down your arms. You cannot win. He will be your King. He will eventually rule you. He will rule you in heaven or He will rule you in hell. “I will be your King.”

David Murray is Professor of Old Testament & Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. This article first appeared on his blog, Head Heart Hand, and is used with permission.