There’s one other reason Israel desired a king that I haven’t mentioned yet.
It’s the fact that God created mankind to want a king.
That’s right.
I’m saying it’s in our human nature to want to be ruled over and cared for by one all-powerful person.
Without a king, men have a vacuum in their souls that can never be fulfilled.
Of course, when I say “king”, I don’t mean self-serving rulers like what the gentiles have.
I’m talking about a God-ordained Messiah who will rule with a servant’s heart according to God’s Torah.
So yeah, in that sense, the Messiah will truly be God in human flesh.
Now if you’re a trinitarian reading this, don’t dare think I’m implying Israel’s future king will literally be God Himself…
I’m not.
And if you know anything about my theology, you’d be well aware that’s a dogmatic teaching that I reject.
Anyways, getting back to my point…
Fallen mankind has always struggled to live a life pleasing to the Lord.
Left to our own devices, we will eventually break God’s commands and principles as set down in His Word.
And it will be this way until the end times.
That’s why we’re told the Messiah will rule with an iron rod during his initial 1000 year reign.
There will be zero tolerance towards Torah disobedience during this time.
So if you’re a gentile believer who thinks it’s cool to eat pepperoni pizza and ham sandwiches, I’d wean myself off of the desire for that stuff now man…
Because it won’t be available at any restaurant or deli during the 1000 year reign.
Ya feel me?
Anyways, why will the Messiah have to rule with an iron rod?
Because we’ll still be flawed men…
Even with the presence of the Son of God before us…
Even after the horrors of Armageddon are behind us…
And even though the world’s population will consist of nothing but worshippers of the God of Israel.
Listen, if Israel’s history teaches us anything, it is this.
FIRST, given enough time we will all eventually succumb to the evil tendencies and fallen DNA of our earthly father Adam.
There’s nothing you can do about it.
I’m sure after being born again, you realized you still struggled with lust, anger and hatred towards others.
I know I have.
SECOND, over time, we all prefer our greedy human aspirations over God’s humble provisions.
This reminds me of the story of a high-profile party that was filled with Wall Street hot shots who were flaunting their wealth and achievements.
At the party, an author who was attending was told by one of arrogant financiers “I’ll make more money this month than you’ll make in a whole year”.
Without skipping a beat, the author calmly replied, “That may be true. But I’ve got something you don’t have. I’ve got enough”.
I think that simple yet powerful response captures the essence of Godly contentment.
There ain’t nothing wrong with wealth…even great wealth.
But I think the story is a gentle reminder to find balance and appreciate the blessings the Lord has given us today.
Alrighty, let me finish up this post up with this question.
Should Samuel have been upset with the demand for a king?
Especially when Moses already said this was going to happen and would be permitted by God?
We’ll get into this the next time we meet.
I leave you with these words from the Torah:
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.”-Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Leave a Reply