The Prophets' Call: Repentance and the Coming King

Devotional

Day 1: Prophets call the nation to covenantal repentance.

God sent prophets as covenant watchdogs, repeatedly warning Israel and Judah to return to the terms of the covenant. Their role was to call out idolatry, injustice, and the specific ways the people had drifted, urging a turn back to God so relationship could be restored. The prophets were not primarily fortune-tellers but covenant prosecutors whose words aimed to awaken hearts to repentance and right living. [24:24]

2 Kings 17:13 (ESV)
Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the law that I commanded your fathers and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets."

Reflection: What one habit, loyalty, or "idol" have you allowed to take the place of God's commands in your life, and what specific first step will you take this week to turn from it and restore obedience?

Day 2: The coming King brings everlasting peace and justice.

The prophets looked beyond immediate judgment to promise a coming King who would establish an enduring reign of justice and peace. This Messianic hope anchors Advent: even amid drift and failure, God’s plan moves forward toward restoration through the birth of the Savior. Trusting that promise invites patient hope and shapes how one lives now in expectation of His righteous rule. [43:06]

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Reflection: Identify one anxious area, broken relationship, or chaotic corner of your life where you need the Prince of Peace to reign; what is one concrete step you can take this week to invite His peace into that situation?

Day 3: Awaken from spiritual sleep to Christ's shining.

Wakefulness is a spiritual call: believers are invited to arise from complacency so Christ's light can shine on them and transform their days. This awakening includes laying burdens and sin at the foot of the cross and allowing the Spirit to correct, bless, and reorient the heart toward active trust. Practicing small rhythms of repentance and attention keeps one from drifting back into sleep. [07:10]

Ephesians 5:14 (ESV)
Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Reflection: What is one small morning practice (5–10 minutes of Scripture reading, prayer, or silence) you will commit to for the next seven days to help you "wake up" and let Christ's light shape how you begin each day?

Day 4: Christ gives a peace that surpasses worldly peace.

Jesus offers a peace distinct from anything the world can provide—one that calms hearts and removes fear even amid chaos. That peace does not deny trouble but meets the soul with a steadiness that guards thoughts and feelings, enabling trust when circumstances are unstable. Learning to receive and rest in His peace requires intentional surrender and rehearsing His promises in moments of anxiety. [16:45]

John 14:27 (ESV)
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

Reflection: When anxious thoughts rise, what short phrase from Jesus will you rehearse (for example, "My peace I give to you"), and when in the next three days will you practice speaking that phrase aloud to calm and re-center your heart?

Day 5: Jesus pulls you out of the deepest ditches.

When the people drifted into deep failure and shame, God used His mercy to draw them up; the same saving work is fulfilled in Christ who reaches into the miry bogs of life. He delights to rescue wandering, repentant souls, set their feet on a solid rock, and give them a new song of praise to sing. No ditch is too deep for the Savior who brings secure steps and restored worship. [47:52]

Psalm 40:1-3 (ESV)
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Reflection: What one "ditch" or area of stuckness in your life do you need Jesus to draw you out of, and who will you ask this week to pray with you and hold you accountable as you take the next step toward rescue?

Sermon Summary

I invited us to wake up to Christ’s light on a crisp morning, naming the places where chaos and cold can numb our hearts. In Advent, we lit the candle of peace and remembered Jesus’ promise, “My peace I give to you,” a peace deeper than circumstances. We stepped into that peace through confession and heard forgiveness spoken over us so we could live unburdened and free. From there, we opened 2 Kings to see how the kings and people drifted from God, and how God, in mercy, sent prophets to call them back.

We walked through the prophetic calling: covenant watchdogs who held leaders and people accountable; voices that named idolatry and injustice; heralds who summoned repentance; bearers of hope in dark seasons; and forerunners who prepared the way for Christ. Elijah stood before Ahab and confronted a limping heart that wanted both the Lord and Baal. The prophets also taught us the shape of repentance—teshuva—turning and returning to God, not as a performance but as a pathway home.

Josiah’s story stunned us: God’s people had lost the Book of the Law. When it was found and read, the king tore his clothes and sought the Lord. Through the prophetess Huldah, God honored his repentance—judgment would not fall in his day. Repentance doesn’t erase history, but it does change the future posture of a people.

Yet the prophets did more than warn—they spoke hope. Elisha promised water in drought, life in barrenness, and bread in famine. Most of all, the prophets pointed to a coming King: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” I told a roadside story: warning signs matter, but when you’re already in the ditch, you need a rescuer. That’s Jesus. He climbs down, lifts us out, sets our feet on the rock, and puts a new song in our mouths. No ditch is too deep, no drift too far. In Advent, we wait—but not as orphans. The King above all kings has come, and he comes again today, calling us to wake, to return, and to live in his peace.

Key Takeaways

1. Wake up to Christ’s light God’s invitation is not merely to get moving but to become alive to his presence. Awakening begins when we admit our numbness and ask for his light to shine on our chaos. This is how Advent faith starts—by opening our tired eyes to a present Savior. [07:10]
2. Prophets confront drift and idolatry When our hearts split loyalties, prophets refuse polite silence. They name the places we’ve traded God for lesser loves and call us back to covenant fidelity. Their accountability is mercy, not meanness—it’s the voice that keeps us from self-destruction. [33:06]
3. Repentance is a returning home Biblical repentance (teshuva) is not self-loathing; it’s reorientation—turning from what deforms us to the God who restores us. It involves honest sorrow and decisive movement toward life. Repentance humbles us, but it also heals us. [35:26]
4. Jesus rescues us from the ditch Warning matters, but rescue saves. When we’ve already slid into the ditch, Christ doesn’t shout advice from the shoulder—he climbs down, lifts us out, and steadies our steps. His forgiveness restores, and his presence gives us a new song. [45:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:10] - Awake to Christ’s Light
[16:45] - Advent Peace Candle
[18:44] - Confession and Absolution
[24:24] - Scripture: 2 Kings 17
[26:06] - The King Above All Kings
[31:03] - What Prophets Do
[33:06] - Covenant Watchdogs and Accountability
[37:03] - Repentance: Turning and Returning
[39:01] - Josiah Finds the Book
[41:17] - Hope and Promise in Exile
[44:19] - Jesus: Peace, Hope, Joy, Love
[45:31] - The Ditch and the Deliverer
[58:18] - Blessing Emma and Trevor
[68:06] - Closing Blessing and Song

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- 2 Kings 17:7–18
7 And this is the way of the people of Israel: they practiced faithlessness against the Lord their God and they went after the gods of every foreign king whom they were around, and they bowed down to them and provoked the Lord to anger. 8 They served idols, about which the Lord had told them, “You shall not do this.” 9 And the people of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God. 10 And the Lord testified against Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” 11 Nevertheless they would not listen, but were stubborn, like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 12 And they rejected his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. 13 And the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes.” 14 But they would not listen and were more stiff-necked than their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 And they forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves metal images, two calves. And they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 16 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and practiced divination and augury and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 17 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only. 18 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced.

Observation questions

What specific practices and behaviors does 2 Kings 17:7–18 identify as reasons for Israel’s rejection by the Lord? [24:24]
The text says the Lord warned Israel “by every prophet and every seer” (v.10,13). What concrete warnings or commands did those prophets repeat to the people? [24:24]
The passage uses verbs like “turn,” “forsook,” and “removed.” How do those verbs describe a movement away from God and the consequences that followed? [24:24]
In the wider sermon, the lighting of the Advent peace candle was tied to Jesus’ gift of peace. When the reading describes judgment for drift, how does that contrast with the Advent claim that “My peace I give to you” (John 14)? [16:45]

Interpretation questions

The prophets are described as God’s messengers who repeatedly call the people to keep the covenant. What does it mean for a community to have covenantal memory, and why does losing that memory open the door to idolatry and injustice? [33:06]
The Hebrew root for repentance (shuv / teshuva) is “turn” or “return.” How should turning be understood practically—what inner attitudes and outward actions belong to true teshuva? [37:03]
Josiah’s response to finding the Book of the Law was grief and immediate inquiry of the Lord. Why might public repentance by a leader change the posture of a whole people even if it does not erase past consequences? [39:01]
The prophets both warn of judgment and point to hope (e.g., promises of water, a son, abundance, and ultimately the Messiah). How do warning and promise work together in God’s plan—what is the theological purpose of pairing them? [43:06]

Application questions

Wakefulness begins by admitting numbness and asking for Christ’s light. Where do you feel spiritually numb or “asleep” right now, and what is one concrete step you can take this week to ask the Lord to wake you up? [07:10]
Covenant accountability is mercy because it protects us from drifting. Who in your life can serve as a compassionate “covenant watchdog” (someone who will lovingly name drift and call you back)? If you don’t have one, what first step will you take to cultivate that sort of relationship? [33:06]
Repentance (teshuva) is returning home, not self-condemnation. Identify one habit, relationship, or attitude you need to turn from. What does a first faithful step of turning look like this week (a confession, a conversation, a practical change)? [37:03]
When the Book of the Law was lost, finding it jolted the king to repentance. What “book” or steady spiritual practice has been neglected in your life (Scripture reading, prayer, worship, confession)? Which small, specific time-block can you reclaim this week to begin reading and listening again? [39:01]
The prophets point to the coming Rescuer who climbs down into the ditch to lift people out. Describe a way you have experienced Jesus’ rescue in your life. If you feel stuck in a ditch now, what is the single honest prayer you will bring to Jesus this week asking to be drawn out? [45:31]
Forgiveness and peace are available when we lay burdens at the foot of the cross and receive absolution. What burden or shame do you need to lay down this week, and with whom will you share it (a friend, a pastor, a small group) so you can experience the peace that “passes understanding”? [18:44]
Advent reminds us we wait but not as orphans—the King has come and comes again. How will you live differently in this season of waiting so your life is shaped by hope (e.g., hospitality, generosity, intentional Sabbath, serving someone in need)? Pick one concrete action and name when you will do it. [16:45]

Sermon Clips

and we're also in the season of the church of Advent a season of waiting and longing preparing for the birth of the kingthat is above all kings it's a season of waiting and longing and preparing and as we celebrate his first Advent we await his second coming that last song was so appropriate set the tone for us today when he's going to come again in power and reign eternally as the king above all kings and I can't wait [00:26:55] (27 seconds) #SeasonOfAdvent

John the Baptist is considered the last of the Old Testament prophets and he begins Christ's ministry he bridges the Old Testament covenant with the new covenant that is fulfilled by Jesus the Old Testament prophets served as a direct voice from God often speaking very unpopular messages and warning of impending judgment by God biblical prophets called out God's people to turn away from the wickednessthat infected them and turned towards the goodness of God [00:31:38] (30 seconds) #BridgeToChrist

we've already seen in our readings that God sent prophets to the kings and to the people to remind them of the covenant that God made with their forefathersthe prophets were like covenant lawyers they were prosecutors bringing charges against the kings and God's people for the violations that they had made against the covenant agreement remember last week when I said faith without accountability will drift wellthe prophets were the accountability that God sent to the kings and to God's people [00:32:58] (31 seconds) #ProphetsHoldAccountable

some of you might remember last week when God laid out what a king should be he said that a king should write on a scroll all of these laws and keep it close to him and read it all the time so that the king could be right with God and lead the people well do you remember that well not onlyhad the king not done that they had lost the book totally it's gonegone [00:38:40] (20 seconds) #LostTheLaw

finallyin the midst of the judgment and while the people of God are living in the consequences of their rebellion when Judah was in darkness or in captivity God used the prophets to speak words of promise and hopethe prophets reminded God's people that God had not abandoned them that God would not let them go the Lord would fulfill the promises that he made to Abraham and to King David and we can see the prophets in various places giving these words of promise and hope [00:41:29] (40 seconds) #PromisesInTheDark

the prophets weren't just naysayers or party poopersthey spoke hopeand they prepared the world for the coming literal coming of hope peace joy and love for that is who Jesus is He is the peace of the world He is our living hope He is the joy of the Lord lived out and He is the love of Godin the flesh that comes for you and me and that's good news today [00:44:12] (34 seconds) #PropheticHopeAndJoy

and I was thankful because I thought I'm going to have to pull this van out and I got to get on my sermon but there was a truck pulling that minivan out you see the prophets prophets warned us of the ditch and the consequence of the ditch and how deep it could be and they also put the coming of the Messiah Jesus the Christ he is the only one that can save us when we are lost when we have wandered when we have sinned when we have strayed or when we have drifted and when we are stuck he is our hope and he is our Savior [00:46:51] (30 seconds) #JesusOurRescue

there is no ditch too deepno wanderer too far gone no wilderness no sin beyond his forgiving it is his good pleasure it is the delight of Jesus our Savior to find you in the ditches and to save you to bring you out to forgive you and renew you to reconcile you back to the Father to give you abundant and eternal life [00:47:20] (28 seconds) #NoDitchTooDeep

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The Prophets' Call: Repentance and the Coming King

Devotional

Day 1: Prophets call the nation to covenantal repentance.

Day 2: The coming King brings everlasting peace and justice.

Day 3: Awaken from spiritual sleep to Christ's shining.

Day 4: Christ gives a peace that surpasses worldly peace.

Day 5: Jesus pulls you out of the deepest ditches.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Prophets' Call: Repentance and the Coming King

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