This book starts the history of Israel’s monarchs. Israel had become bored with having Judges and they wanted to be like everyone else. In the ancient world there were many city states that were led by kings. Powerful families led regions and countries as a quick read of Genesis chapters 10 and 14 make clear. It would seem that the plan of the creator had been for humans to respect Him as king and leader. He used men like Abraham, Moses etc to lead on his behalf but the ideal wasn’t a king as they generally soaked up resources and became rich at the expense of others, 1 Sam. 8. 10-18.
How unlike the Lord Jesus Christ (King of the Jews, John 19.19, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Rev 17.14, 19.16) who instead of taking wealth from others bringing them into poverty became poor that we through His poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. 8. 9. This is a veiled reference to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, he left the wealth and perfection of heaven to live in a life of poverty in this world. But, it goes even deeper than that. The poverty of Jesus took Him to the death of the cross. He died for our sins, to bring us to God. His poverty is the reason we can have the riches of God’s kindness and grace if we are prepared to repent and believe the gospel.
So, they chose to be like everyone else as having a monarchy was the norm in those days. Being like everyone else is not always a good idea. Do you go with the flow and just do what everyone else is doing or are you a thinking person who make choices after careful consideration? The Bible encourages people to think. It presents truth claims, explains the consequences of certain choices and decisions but ultimately you make your own decisions and are accountable for them.
But back to Israel’s first monarch. Who would you have picked to be King? The first king of Israel was a man’s man. He was an ‘A’ lister, tall and impressive physically, 1 Samuel 9. 2. He would have been the obvious choice if you were looking at leadership from a human perspective. Saul was a good king to start with but he very quickly forgot to trust in God and he did everything in his own strength. The old prophet Samuel was told by God one day that Saul was going to be replaced as king as he had disobeyed God and acted out of pride.
This time God took charge and told Samuel that He (God) would chose the next king. The rest of 1st Samuel is about the conflict between Saul and David. David was very respectful and did not seek the throne. He was happy to wait for God’s time (are we?). There were times when David could have taken Saul’s life but he resisted having such a strong belief that Kings were appointed by God for life and not by men, 1 Samuel 24. 6. But, Saul knew in his heart that he had failed and that his dynasty was doomed, 1 Samuel 24.20, 26. 25.
The story of how the shepherd boy, David, becomes the most famous king of Israel is detailed for us in 2 Samuel.
Scripture for you to read and consider
Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was designated as the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:5-11
Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.
All photos courtesy of Unsplash
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