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.
