King of kings — and judges
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 was the verse we examined Sunday morning. The book of Judges gives us the picture of Israel from the Conquest of the Promised Land until the establishment of the Monarchy with King Saul. It also shows us that even with the judges, there are flaws and issues which arise very quickly after they are no longer present. In between these two times is the life and ministry of Samuel, prophet and judge for God. Samuel listens to and follows the Lord and would be considered a righteous man. Yet the people still followed the false gods of the neighboring nations.
As Samuel’s life draws to a close, he appoints his sons to continue in his role as a judge over the nation, but they do not walk in his ways of following the Lord. This reminds us that though we can attempt to pass on our faith in the Lord to our children, their desire for the Lord must well up from within them. Instruction in the ways of the Lord can be passed on, but faith is an individual response to the instruction.
As a result, the people in 1 Samuel 8:4-5 say, “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” God had delivered them out of Egypt and called them to be different, His people, an example to all the nations of the world; yet now they are clamoring to be like those nations rather than the Lord’s alone. Verses 6-9 tell us what happens next: “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, BUT THEY HAVE REJECTED ME, THAT I SHOULD NOT REIGN OVER THEM. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
There is no king in Israel in Judges 21:25 because they have rejected God. And even if a man is placed on the throne over them (like the other nations), it is only as a usurper of the rightful rule of God. And this continues today in various ways in the countries of the world. Leaders are elected, appointed, born to power, seize power, dominate and use the people to their ends. Even the few kings of Judah who did what was right in the eyes of God were flawed men in need of the Lord’s grace and mercy. The vast majority of the kings of the nation of Israel (Saul, David and Solomon, followed by the kings of the split nation — Judah and Israel) did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In fact, all the kings of Israel (the ten tribes) did evil.
And while the kings have influence, it is the individual responsibility of the person to seat God in HIs proper place in their life. Judges 21:25 is the counter passage to Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” You cannot have it both ways, and you cannot share the throne of life with the Lord. It is an “all or nothing” proposition.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
