I love living in a country where we are not ruled by a king. I have just enough of a sense of history to recognize that kingship has some problems—for all the stability and security a good monarch provides, the potential and actual abuse that occurs is hard to ignore. However, 21st century America is an exception, not the rule. Through most of time across most of the world, monarchy has been the dominate political force. This was certainly the case in biblical times—the king was one of the most prominent figures in biblical history.
Israelite society was dominated by three main roles or offices—the prophet, the priest and the king. It was through these three that Israel learned of their God, related to their God, and was ruled by their God. At various times, the prominence of one office outshone the others, but the idea of all three “jobs” in Israel’s culture was assumed throughout. The prophet proclaimed the will of God to the people by means of the Spirit and Word. The priest offered sacrifices to God, mediating between God and His people. And, the king exercised godly authority. Or, at least, that was the intent.
As we know, throughout the Old Testament, the priests failed at their task, the prophets proclaimed falsely, kings rebelled and deserted the Lord. Reading the Hebrew Bible leaves one impressed by the promise of what could be in a functioning society—one governed by the prophet, priest and king—and a deep yearning for the fulfillment of that promise.
That fulfillment has come in Jesus Christ. The three-fold office—the role of the prophet, the priest and the king—has been taken up by Jesus and taken up completely.
In light of our text for this week, I Samuel chapter 8, we are focused upon the kingly role of Jesus. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks and answers:
- Question 26: How does Christ execute the office of a king?
- Answer: As king, Christ brings us under His power, rules and defends us, and restrains and conquers all His and our enemies.
In other words: Acting as King, Jesus calls a people to Himself from the world, gives them laws and governs their lives; Jesus bestows grace and corrects sin; Jesus restrains and overcomes His enemies; Jesus preserves His people through times of suffering and temptation; Jesus orders all things for His glory and our good. To Jesus has been given “all authority in Heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), His is “the name that is above every name” and at whose name “every knee shall bow” (Philippians 2:9-11), He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).
To prepare this week to worship our King, read 1 Samuel chapter 8.
- What prompts the people to request a king from Samuel? Is their reasoning not understandable? What other options might they have considered? How might they have proven more godly?
- Why does God say that the people have rejected Him as their King? How had He functioned as King in the past, and why is their asking for a king considered a rejection of God as King?
- How might you “reject God as King” in a similar way? What attitudes or actions might we do that communicates the same thing to our Lord?
- If the people were rejecting God by asking for a king, why does God eventually relent and provide them with a king? Why does He “give in” here?
- Notice the qualifier attached to their request for a king—it is not just a king they want, but a king “like all the other nations.” Ah ha! Now do you see their sin more clearly? How might we fall into that same sin?
By Henry Knapp