King and caution
Deuteronomy Chapter 16 – 18:8 Read it here
For the first time in scripture, a king for Israel is mentioned in 17:14-20.
While the law is central to the Old Testament, it is interesting to see how much it avoids the typical trappings of government, which is the usual enforcer of the law.
It’s not that the people weren’t familiar with kings…in each of the lands they conquer (or don’t), the king of that land is prominent in the story.
But the writer of Deuteronomy treats the concept of kingship with visible contempt, dismissing it as foreign, optional and probably unwise. The idea of a king for Israel is treated as an afterthought, something the people might want after they have taken possession of the land and are settled in it.
That’s an important point to consider as we interpret the significance of Jesus.
The ancient Israelites weren’t the only people to dream of a warrior king who would lead them to victory over their oppressors. There are many today who believe the path to a Christian nation and a Christian world lies in attaining political power and control…but even as far back as Deuteronomy the clear understanding was that conquest is given by God…there was no need at all of a warrior king to lead the process.
We’re in the final book of the law. The law is the most foundational part of the Bible from which all the rest takes its lead. There has been a lot of space devoted to understanding righteous living, proper worship, the importance of confession and atonement, wise and faithful judges who interpret God’s law without concern for power or profit. Nowhere has a king been viewed as necessary or even desirable.
Yet, in just six more books we’ll be reading I Kings. Pay attention to how that happens. It’s relevant to our day.