Rules for Kings

We’ve seen in I Samuel 7 and following that when Israel became weary of her system of government by God-appointed judges, she demanded a king, to be “like the other nations.” This was no surprise to God, or to Samuel. God is omniscient. He has always known all that is knowable; past, present and future. He has always foreseen and provided for the needs and even the willful demands of His people. As a faithful priest and prophet of God, Samuel knew the scriptures. He not only knew them, he had the divine viewpoint of history. He was trained in the Law of Moses, so when the people demanded a king, Samuel recognized the situation which God had foretold about 500 years before, in Deuteronomy chapter 17:

“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say,‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. Deuteronomy 17:14-17

The book of Deuteronomy, written by Moses in the last months of his life, served as a constitution for the theocracy of Israel once she was established in the land (Ryrie introduction to Deuteronomy).

The Lord knew that, as humans with old sin natures (Adam’s legacy), they would eventually rebel against His rulership of them through His delegated authorities. Humans are easily discouraged and distracted, and have a tendency to whine and complain when our comforts and expectations are not being fulfilled according to our human desires. We are an arrogant lot, from birth. That is why we must be born again.

The prophecy was when, not if.    

      1.When you come to the land and possess it and dwell in it
2. You will decide to establish a king, like the Gentile nations. Such is the way of human viewpoint.
3. You will be permitted to do so, but he will be of the Lord’s choosing. Only God knows the heart.
4. He must be an Israelite, not a foreigner. A foreigner is not likely to have Israel’s best interests at heart. God protects His people, even against their own wrong thinking.
5. He must not be preoccupied with acquiring horses, wives and money for himself. Worldly goods and relationships are distracting and tend to confuse one’s priorities. People who desire things, sex and money will do anything for them; even compromise the security of their nation.
6. He must not send to Egypt for equipment or livestock. Returning to Egypt is forbidden. Returning to Egypt is reversionism. God has delivered these people from bondage in Egypt (symbolic of the world) and its paganism. No matter how attractive it seems, they must not return.

“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.  And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20

7.When the king took the throne of Israel, one of his first duties was to write for himself a copy of the law. The original was kept in the central sanctuary. The king, himself must spend the time necessary to sit in the sanctuary and hand-copy the law. He was to keep it with him, read it regularly and obey its statutes. This would keep him straight in his thinking as Israel’s leader and it would keep him humble. It would also preserve the kingdom for himself and his heirs.

"we must persevere in the use of the written word of God as long as we live. Christ's scholars never learn above their Bibles, but will have a constant occasion for them till they come to that world where knowledge and love will both be made perfect."-Matthew Henry

My son, who is much more knowledgeable about the Bible than I am, says there is no evidence that any of Israel’s kings ever obeyed this command.

Power corrupts humans because humans abuse power. Sin and failure, for humans, is easier than loyalty and obedience. We pray for blessing and earn discipline, because of the weakness of our flesh. The life of obedience is rewarding beyond description, but we are arrogant, lazy and self-absorbed.  We have our own ideas of how life should be conducted and are easily enticed by the worldliness of Egypt. We are quick to excuse ourselves for our ignorance of doctrine and our sloppy behavior. Being king doesn’t make a man better, it usually makes him worse, and there is no excuse. There is a reason: willful disobedience to the Word of God.

God foreknew Israel’s rebellious rejection of His system of government. He also foreknew how their history would play out with men as their kings. Once the king was anointed, however, his office must be respected.

The people would have to live with their mistake.