Deu 17:14-20 | KingComments | STEP | After the laws for subjects laws for the king follow. The appointment of a king is not ordered, as is the case with judges. God foresees the demand for a king and already gives His directions for it. He rules over kings. Those who rule over others must remember that they themselves are also under the authority of a Superior. The question God expects of the people when they are in the land is not that of 1 Samuel 8. There “all the elders of Israel” come to Samuel and say to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations” ( ; cf. ). God has always had a King in His mind. He expects from his people that they will come with this question, because He has spoken about it, in the words he puts in Jacob’s mouth when he blesses his sons ( ). In 1 Samuel 8 they want a king after their own heart and not a king after the heart of God . They want a king there instead of the LORD. The king pleasing to the heart of God is a picture of the Lord Jesus. He is one “from among your countrymen” (cf. ). A king is also a picture of the believers of the church, for they are made “a kingdom” ( ). Soon we will rule as such ( ). What we will do openly in the future must already be done now in the interpersonal matters that may exist between believers. However, we are not only members of the church, but also subjects in the kingdom, not rulers. Brothers with ‘royal dignity’ we recognize those who have the gift of government. They are given by the Lord and do not pretend to that position themselves. The aspiration toward being a supervisor is recommended, yet also stated are the prerequisite conditions ( ). The king must be a countryman, or brother, and as such a servant and not a ruler. A man like Diótrefes, about whom John writes in his third letter, doesn’t care for this. He does not receive the brothers and behaves like a ruler, claiming the first place: “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. … and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire [to do so] and puts [them] out of the church” ( ). The king is warned of three things: horses, women and riches (silver and gold). 1. ‘Horses’ speak of natural strength and violence. The king may not boast on this, but he must trust the LORD: “Some [boast] in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God” ( ; ). We can compare it to, for example, reliance on fluent speech. If we don’t master that, we can learn it. An acquired speaking ability is highly regarded in the world. Nevertheless, we should not use verbal violence in the church to manipulate the opinion of the whole. 2. “Wives” in this context speak of temptations by which a deviation from the LORD comes. To this is connected the arousal of false desires, which together with greed leads to idolatry ( ). 3. The third commandment is that he shall not “greatly increase silver and gold”. When this happens, it shows the search for the material as the true fulfillment of life. It will also lead to independence from God. The three dangers mentioned can be summed up in the words power, pleasure and riches. For the three dangers mentioned above, the king, and we as kings, can only be preserved by constantly reading “a copy of this law”. If this is in the heart, he abides in the right track and in the right mind. He will not then rise above his brothers. Such brothers and sisters can exercise justice among the believers in the right way. In order to preserve himself from these dangers and to be a good king for his people, the king must write out a copy of the law himself. He is expected to read it daily. It will make him aware of the fact that indeed he rules over a people, but is also ruled over himself. It will keep him humble among his people. It will keep him from deviations in his kingship, so that it will be balanced and serving. The Lord Jesus points this out to His disciples: “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But [it is] not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines [at the table] or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines [at the table]? But I am among you as the one who serves” ( ).

‏ Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Setting a King

After the laws for subjects laws for the king follow. The appointment of a king is not ordered, as is the case with judges. God foresees the demand for a king and already gives His directions for it. He rules over kings. Those who rule over others must remember that they themselves are also under the authority of a Superior.

The question God expects of the people when they are in the land is not that of 1 Samuel 8. There “all the elders of Israel” come to Samuel and say to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations” (1Sam 8:4-5; cf. Hos 8:4). God has always had a King in His mind. He expects from his people that they will come with this question, because He has spoken about it, in the words he puts in Jacob’s mouth when he blesses his sons (Gen 49:10). In 1 Samuel 8 they want a king after their own heart and not a king after the heart of God. They want a king there instead of the LORD.

The king pleasing to the heart of God is a picture of the Lord Jesus. He is one “from among your countrymen” (cf. Heb 2:14). A king is also a picture of the believers of the church, for they are made “a kingdom” (Rev 1:6). Soon we will rule as such (1Cor 6:2). What we will do openly in the future must already be done now in the interpersonal matters that may exist between believers.

However, we are not only members of the church, but also subjects in the kingdom, not rulers. Brothers with ‘royal dignity’ we recognize those who have the gift of government. They are given by the Lord and do not pretend to that position themselves. The aspiration toward being a supervisor is recommended, yet also stated are the prerequisite conditions (1Tim 3:1-7).

The king must be a countryman, or brother, and as such a servant and not a ruler. A man like Diótrefes, about whom John writes in his third letter, doesn’t care for this. He does not receive the brothers and behaves like a ruler, claiming the first place: “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. … and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire [to do so] and puts [them] out of the church” (3Jn 1:9 ; 10b).

The king is warned of three things: horses, women and riches (silver and gold).

1. ‘Horses’ speak of natural strength and violence. The king may not boast on this, but he must trust the LORD: “Some [boast] in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God” (Psa 20:7 ; Psa 33:17; Hos 14:3). We can compare it to, for example, reliance on fluent speech. If we don’t master that, we can learn it. An acquired speaking ability is highly regarded in the world. Nevertheless, we should not use verbal violence in the church to manipulate the opinion of the whole.

2. “Wives” in this context speak of temptations by which a deviation from the LORD comes. To this is connected the arousal of false desires, which together with greed leads to idolatry (Col 3:5).

3. The third commandment is that he shall not “greatly increase silver and gold”. When this happens, it shows the search for the material as the true fulfillment of life. It will also lead to independence from God.

The three dangers mentioned can be summed up in the words power, pleasure and riches. For the three dangers mentioned above, the king, and we as kings, can only be preserved by constantly reading “a copy of this law”. If this is in the heart, he abides in the right track and in the right mind. He will not then rise above his brothers. Such brothers and sisters can exercise justice among the believers in the right way.

In order to preserve himself from these dangers and to be a good king for his people, the king must write out a copy of the law himself. He is expected to read it daily. It will make him aware of the fact that indeed he rules over a people, but is also ruled over himself. It will keep him humble among his people. It will keep him from deviations in his kingship, so that it will be balanced and serving. The Lord Jesus points this out to His disciples: “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But [it is] not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines [at the table] or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines [at the table]? But I am among you as the one who serves” (Lk 20:25-27).