Articles
Instructions to the King
Studying the Law of Moses is intimidating. With instructions on menstruation, shellfish, and cultic observances, who wouldn’t be intimidated? There are sections though that are fairly straightforward and can readily be applied even today 3,500 years separated from its composition. One such section is Deut. 17:14-20. The text reads:
“When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’ He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.
“Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 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, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.
Written just prior to the Canaan incursion, God’s instructions in the Law of Moses become extremely particular. Not only is God concerned with the average citizen, He is aware of the needs of the rulers in the kingdom 400 years before it’s establishment! (Circa 1050 B.C.)
Points of Interest:
1. God knew Israel would desire a mortal king long before the thought had crossed their minds. He foresaw their request for a king just like pagan nations as recorded in 1 Samuel 8. Additionally, God foresaw their rejection of Him as their King of kings and Lord of lords.
2. God knew that a foreign king would spell disaster for His people. The entirety of the Law of Moses was geared toward the separation of His people. Later in Israelite history, foreign kings and puppet kings reigned and the kingdom declined significantly as a result.
3. God knew the king would become drunk with power and gather weapons, horses, and wealth to himself, forgetting the people. Again, we see this fulfilled numerous times throughout the days of Israel and Judah.
4. God knew they would turn to foreign powers for support before they turned to Him. Zedekiah is perhaps the clearest example of such behavior.
5. God foresaw the influence of foreign wives and concubines of the king. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines that turned his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:1-3).
To combat such calamity in the kingdom, Israel’s kings were instructed to write out the law before the Levitical priests; moreover, he was required to commit it to memory and application with his subjects. The benefits would be a long and prosperous rule.
Applications:
1. As God’s royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), it is mandated that we write out and commit God’s Word to memory (2 Timothy 2:15).
2. As citizens of the heavenly kingdom, we should recognize God’s providential care for our respective earthly rulers and nations. He knows what is going on and who has been appointed as leaders (Rom. 13:1-7).
3. We must pray continually for peace and, if we have the option, elect rulers with godly inclinations and views (1 Timothy 2:1-8).
