Israel's King

There is nothing that ever surprises God. So knowing the people of Israel would later desire a king, God prophetically announces through Moses a coming event that will occur which changes the history of Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:14-15 … "When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother."

This is not a sanction by God for a king or even a recommendation for one. On the contrary, when the people wanted a change from theocracy rule, by an appointment of a king, God's disapproval was expressed in the most unequivocal terms in 1st Samuel 8:7 when He said, "… they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

The Jews wanted to believe, that by Moses declaring that God would choose the king for them, this was in effect a command to set a king over them ... but in reality it was only God's reluctant permission knowing they would be determined to have a king over them. This permission (if this is the right word) was given with this restriction … to appoint none but whom God should choose.

Accordingly we find, when they expressed their desire as prophesied to have a king (in the time of Samuel) it was granted ... though not without God's command for Samuel to protest the fact. The Lord chose their first king for them, Saul, and after him, David, and even Solomon, David's son.

Later, Israel appointed kings without consulting God for approval ...
Hosea 8:4 … "They have set up kings, but not by me ..."

1st Samuel 8:4-22 (edited) … "All the elders of Israel came to Samuel and said ... make us a king to judge us like all the nations. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me … they have forsaken me … yet protest solemnly unto them … Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel … And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king."

The people of Israel, stubborn and as hard headed as we are sometimes; wanting to be just like the other nations around them ... although fully informed of God's Will for them, still desired and were determined to have a political king rather than a spiritual king in the form of a priest, prophet or judge. Even after Samuel informed them of the consequences of their actions, they still wanted a king to reign over them.

After reading these scriptures in God's Word, I cannot see how anyone could still believe that it was God's Will for Israel to have a king rule over them. The scripture states very plainly that the people willingly … "rejected" … God and His form of government, a "theocracy" for one they chose … an earthly king.

There are those who would say that God intended for Israel to have a king to rule over them and actually moved them to ask for a king. This type of reasoning is the same as the people of Israel used … "Since God had Moses to give the requirements that a future king should possess, this proves that God wanted a king for them and sanctioned it."

That makes about as much sense as saying … "Since God gave the requirements and the directions in the law concerning how to cleanse and purify the people from sin, this proves that God wanted them to sin."

This could never happen as it goes against the very nature and heart of God and all He is.

And then lastly … I have heard it stated this way. God's perfect will was for Israel to have a priest, prophet or judge to rule over them. By allowing them to have a king … God's perfect will was set aside and it then became God's ... permissive will.

I have a problem with that. God's will is perfect … period.

By saying God has a permissive will … which is not His perfect will … it by necessity becomes an imperfect will … and that cannot be.

God does not have anything that is not perfect.

By having a king, Israel was not in His permissive will … they were just simply out of His Will … period. And they paid the price.

That should give us pause … are we in His will?



Comments welcome.