King Me

Through the biographical sketches of the kings of Israel, the series looks at the “King Me” attitude, where a leader lays hold of man’s idea of power versus the leader who seeks to honor and glorify God. In the northern kingdom, there was not a single righteous king amongst the 20, while in the southern kingdom of Judah, a handful of righteous kings sought to follow the law.

In Deuteronomy 17, Moses establishes a framework for a monarchy, the best form of government. As we read through the biographical sketches of the kings of Israel, we can observe how they fail while looking forward to the absolute monarchy of Jesus Christ. Moses outlines the qualifications for a king in Deuteronomy 17, including not multiplying horses, wives, or gold and writing a copy of the law to read and learn from all his life. Moses notes man’s weakness in the four symbols of power - weapons, women, wealth, and wisdom. Women were often used as symbols of power in ancient times, with the exchange of a King's daughter between kingdoms being the most prized endorsement of a treaty. War is a display of power that has been recognized for centuries. The power and wealth can wield more influence in the kingdoms around them. The power of wisdom is discussed, with examples of humanistic endeavors to pursue it and the limitations of human wisdom. The ultimate wisdom comes from God, as Moses explains in Deuteronomy 17. Moses also outlines the three primary responsibilities of a king: protection, order of worship, and justice. He emphasizes that God has already provided these responsibilities.

Through Moses, God linked the office of King with spiritual responsibility, emphasizing the importance of daily devotion to the Word of God, justice, avoiding alliances with the world, and amassing wealth. The king must represent these qualities authentically and be a living example of the law of God to the people.