A Reason for a King

On Sunday we started our series on David by covering the passage where we first meet David, 1 Samuel 16. But that is not the beginning of the story. This week we are going to retreat to 1 Samuel 8 and discuss how and why Israel became a kingdom in the first place. In this blog entry, we are going to go even further back, all the way to Deuteronomy.

This coming Sunday, we are going to discuss why Israel's decision to have a king is a bad idea. But, if Israel's heart was in the right place, having a king was permissible. In Deuteronomy 17:14, it says, "When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it, and then say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,' you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose." With that, God lays out some regulations on how the king needs to operate. Some things that seem trivial (not returning to Egypt to acquire horses) and some things very telling (the king should not have many wives and should read and follow the law).

A good question as we approach 1 Samuel 8 is this: why would God be upset at Israel's desire to have a king when He has given them that provision already in the Scriptures? The answer isn't easy, but, as with everything we will look at in the David storyline, it starts with the heart. God is looking at the hearts of His people. He is looking at their motivations. Even though something is permissible, it doesn't always mean it is good (see 1 Corinthians 8-10 to see how we should view things in our lives that God has given us to enjoy, yet with discernment).

Insight to figuring out what was going on in the hearts of Israel comes in reading Joshua and Judges. I will highlight some of it this coming Sunday, but it is fair to say that God would allow a king under certain conditions. If you read through Joshua and Judges, those conditions were never met. Think of a child turning 16 and as a parent, you are considering whether to purchase them a car. You start laying out a plan when they turn 14...save "x" amount of money, practice driving in the parking lot twice a week, make good grades, find a summer job, etc. If your child turns 16 and hasn't met even one condition, should they receive a car?

The answer is no. But Israel wasn't 16 anymore. They had grown up. Under God's provision, a king was an option. Instead of being a blessing, God sees a king as potentially being judgment on them. Again, it goes back to their hearts. The only chance for the hearts of Israel is the heart of God. As a loving parent, God is patient and protective. But God also allows Israel to live in their sin and rebellion...and face the consequences. Joshua and Judges are a downward spiral that reaches ugly depths. But the heart of God uses even the sins of His people to accomplish His redemptive purposes. A king is in His ultimate plan for Israel and for us. No matter how it happens, God will use it for His glory.

Back in the Saddle??

Well...it has been a little while since I last posted. I wrote about going on vacation in my last post. From the looks of it, I was gone for 3 months! Sorry about that. I am not a writer by nature and I have found it hard to build "blogging" into my weekly schedule. So, I need your help to keep me accountable to write.

Why come back? Well, we are about to start a sermon series on David. It is something I am very excited about. There is so much we can learn from the life of David. This Sunday, I will begin the process of WHY we should study David and what lessons we should be looking for as we go through this series. Each week I will try and fill in the gaps of the story that I don't focus on in my sermons, as well as reflect on any questions or comments you might bring to me.

So...you ready? See you Sunday!