Revelation 19:6-7 KJV – “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

The church in Liberia, Africa, was cut off from the rest of the world during that country’s bloody civil war. The pastor of a church in the capital city of Monrovia, writing his Christmas letter by candlelight to the leaders of his denomination, expressed the hope of his heart: “My candle is soon to go out, but the sun is rising. And who needs a candle when you have the Son?”

What has caused you to feel that the candle of hope in your life is soon to go out? Soaring inflation that is straining your budget to the breaking point? Bloody civil war in your city? Discord in your marriage? Turmoil in your business? Division in your church? Disease and death seem to be all around us. Is the source of your hopelessness nothing you can really pinpoint, just a general feeling of depression, disillusionment, discouragement, distress, or defeat?

The Old Testament describes how, for approximately fourteen years after David was anointed by God as king over His people, he did not sit on the throne. His enemy, Saul, was in power, and during that time he desperately did all he could to destroy David and those who were loyal to him.

Four hundred men from all walks of life became terrified of Saul. To them, he seemed invincible in his power and immovable from his position of authority. Faced with Saul’s seemingly permanent rule over them, the four hundred men became discontented, distressed, and discouraged in their daily life. Their candle of hope went out.

Then they heard about David. They heard that he was God’s anointed king. They heard that one day he would rule from the throne in Jerusalem. They heard of his victory over Goliath and the Philistine army, and of his repeated skirmishes with Saul and other enemies. They heard he was a courageous, compassionate leader who was undefeated in battle. So these four hundred men forsook everything and put all their hope in David. “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.”1

David, as a king in exile, became a rallying point for God’s people. His leadership in their lives, even before he ruled from the throne in Jerusalem, radically changed their perspective of the present as well as of the future. David gave them hope!

The four hundred men who lived with him, fought for him and placed all their hope in him became David’s mighty men. And when he was crowned king of Israel, they reigned with him.

In one sense, the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s anointed King in exile. The enemies—Satan, self, and sin—reign supreme on His earthly throne of authority. Often these “kings”, like King Saul, seem to be invincible in their power and immovable in their position, causing our candle of hope to flicker and falter.

But we have heard of the King! We have heard of God’s anointed One! We have heard of His courageous and compassionate leadership! We have heard of His amazing exploits and His victories in battle! When our candle flickers, our hope in Him ignites the fire of our hearts in devoted faithfulness to Him. Perhaps our candle of hope has almost gone out, “but the sun is rising. And who needs a candle when you have the Son”?

The vision of His glory is the King’s rallying cry to His people, challenging us to place all our hope in Him. Make Him your priority! Give Him your loyalty! Fan the flame of your love for Him! Live for Him! Serve Him! Be faithful to the King in exile! One day, you will reign with Him!