When you Select a King..

30 Nov When you Select a King..

I’m sure we all remember the story of Saul, the very first king of Israel.

And how disappointed the Lord was, when His beloved children demanded a king.

But reading the Bible recently, I discovered to my surprise, that God had actually anticipated this eventuality, more than three centuries earlier.

Yes Brethren, He had.

Picture with me, if you will, one of my favorite scenes from scripture.

Here’s Moses, standing gracefully before the people, somewhere in the plains of Moab, on this side of the Jordan.

It is the final days of a 40-year journey, and Moses knows that he is approaching the last days of his life.

The Lord has spoken, you see, and let it be known that Moses will by no means enter the land of promise.

(On account of that unhappy incident at the rock, you understand).

So Moses gives a speech, right there, at the entrance to the Promised Land.

He speaks passionately about the Lord’s faithfulness to the children of Israel.

Reminds them of how He has been with them until that very moment.

He reviews God’s laws again, including the Ten Commandments.

Talks to them about how they are to worship the Lord their God, once they possess the Land of Milk and Honey.

Forty years is a long time, Brethren, and Moses takes his time, reminding the people who they are and where they have been.

Quite unexpectedly, however, Moses also touches on another matter, one we know will only happen at least 350 years later.

And he says;

When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it and say;

‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me..’

Say that again..?

When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it and say;

‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me..’

Aha!

So it wasn’t such a surprise after all, when the Children of Israel later demanded a king.

Not to the Lord, at least.

He knew.

And so, on that beautiful day by the River Jordan, God spelled out what the Israelites were to do, should they decide to select a king.

And He said:

You shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses..

He shall not multiply horses for himself.. neither shall he multiply wives for himself..

He shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book..  from the one before the priests, the Levites..

And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life..

That he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes..

That his heart may not be lifted above his brethren..

That he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right hand or to the left..

And that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel..

Allow me to paraphrase this in today’s parlance, for your further edification, Brethren.

When you elect a leader, dear reader;

You shall elect one who the Lord your God has chosen..

He shall not multiply for himself property, houses, cars, land, wives..

He shall keep for himself a copy of the Word of God..

And he shall read it all the days of his life..

So that he may learn to fear the Lord and keep His commandments..

That his heart may not be filled with pride..

That he may not turn aside from the Word, to the right hand or to the left..

And that he may prolong his days in his nation.. he and his children in the midst of the people..

In other words brothers and sisters, choose your leaders very, very carefully.

Over to you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Electorate..

——

* Let’s take a moment to consider the Lord’s will for this land, as we select our leaders in the upcoming Elections..

* Moses full speech to the Israelites is wonderfully documented in the Book of Deuteronomy.

* The section I have quoted can be found in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. I have summarized it quite a bit, so I would encourage a full reading of the passage.