God, the Bible and Political Justice: Chapter 17
Part Three: Political Lessons from Jewish History
Chapter 17
The Kings in Ascent
As we begin looking at the Kings of Israel we must work from 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles as they overlap in telling the history of the political leaders. Some books list different details, which I have tried to harmonize into a single overview. We get a lot of detail on the first three kings but then history and the Scriptural record settle down into repeating patterns of information. God is not telling us everything from each political leader’s life. He is telling us what He considers significant for our learning of the political process and gives us principles of growth and destruction of a nation. How many generations does it take to see a blessing? How many generations does it take to destroy the fiber of a nation? What are the signposts along the way?
The people come to Samuel in chapter eight requesting a new form of government. Like the nations around them, they want to give more power to a national leader who will lead them all the time. Previously political power rested in the 12 tribes and a national leader was appointed when there was a national crisis. Progressively generations have changed and modified the executive institution to a more permanent leadership. Now Israel wants a constitutional change in “how” they are governed.
Samuel consults God. God tells Samuel to tell the people why this is a bad idea. 1 Samuel 8:10-18 In short, God says this is going to divert prime resources of the nation to maintaining and providing governance and the institution a king requires. Prosperity will be traded for less responsibility, and reliance on a king for security will replace reliance on God for it. The problem in Israel so far has always been that the people turned away from God by worshipping pagan god’s and forcing God to turn His back on them. When the people turned back to God, God always raised up a leader and an army. Now the people want a layer of protection in their system that compensates for their need to return to God. They want a King who will protect them all the time even when they turn away from God.
God makes it clear that this new executive will be very expensive. Their sons will spend their youth in full time military service, as the King will create a profession institution of military vocation. The King will need to create a professional service to provide for the needs of state and their daughters will be taken into this bureaucracy to work as servants. The best of their economy will be needed to support this system and the King will institute taxation to pay for it. He will take the best of your work force and the best of your livestock and tax you on your remaining livestock.
“But the people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” And God responds, “Listen to them and give them a king.”1 Samuel 8:19-21
In Deuteronomy chapter one God had given the people the right to chose how, by whom and over what they would be governed. He then tells them how they should do it. But the choice is theirs. And Israel has made their choice. They want a King!
As Samuel steps down from political leadership he calls all the people together. His final speech is purposeful. He reminds the nation that they have demanded a King so he has provided a process for that transition. As he steps down he asks two questions and requires them to be witness to the answers. Who has he cheated or oppressed? If they know of any incident where Samuel has stolen, bribed or turned a blind eye to pervert justice they are to stand up and speak now. The people are unanimous that he has not done any of these things.
Interesting to have a vote of confidence for an out going leader. What concerned Samuel? Was he afraid of retribution by the incoming power or revenge when the people become discontent with their political choices? What ever it is Samuel is distancing himself from the direction that Israel has taken in appointing a King in spite of the fact that God will honor the choices of the people. “Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for;” 1 Samuel 12:13
Samuel reminds them that God will bless them and their King: 1 Samuel 12 “14 If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God-good! 15 But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.”
God’s requirements for blessing are the same now that they have a King. However, now that they have added another layer of authority they have added another layer of requirement.
Notice Samuel’s emphasis on the choices of the people. At the end of the chapter we read: 1Samuel 12:20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
Samuel’s point is clear. It is not a King that will save or destroy Israel, but the choices of the people. If they will turn to God AND the King they choose does the same, God will bless them. And if they do not, He will not. The issue is not political leadership. The issue of blessing is the condition of the people being led.
God is pleading with the people of Israel, with or without a King, not to turn away from the blessing of living His ways.
Saul 1051-1011B.C.
Saul is the first of the Kings God did not want. Although the people have made a choice that is not God’s desire, He will seek to bless them in their choices. Saul is the best man God can find for the job and the people agree and appoint him King.
Saul is a Benjamite and impressive in bearing (what do you mean with “bearing”?). With amazing detail God leads Samuel to Saul and says “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines, I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.” 1 Samuel 9:16 In spite of his flaws there is no doubt this is the man God is behind. The people cried out for help and God heard.
Samuel proceeds to anoint Saul with oil and pronounce him God’s choice for King. In a sense God is giving him His endorsement. Saul does not have the authority of King until the people choose him. Samuel brings all the tribes together, presents Saul and “the people shouted, long live the king!’”1 Samuel 10:24 But there are dissenters who question his leadership.
Saul becomes King at the age of 30 and he reigns for 42 years. He rules from his home in Gibeah, as the Judges had ruled from their homes in the past.
When Nahash the Ammonite[1] tries to annex the area of Jabesh Gilead. Saul sends out a call to arms and raises an army of 300,000 from the twelve tribes. “The terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they turned out as one man.” 1 Samuel 11:7 They soundly defeat the enemy. Saul’s Kingship is confirmed and any civil dissent over his leadership is quelled.
Saul’s army nearly mutinies in their next military engagement with the Philistines. Saul has a standing army of 3,000 men. 2,000 under his leadership and 1,000 under his son Jonathan. They are up against an enemy with 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers and soldiers to numerous to count. Saul, frustrated by Samuel’s late arrival to the battle field and concerned for his army’s courage, offers the pre-battle sacrifice. Samuel, now functioning in priestly role, arrives and is furious. Saul is calling on the name of the Lord while breaking His law. Only the priesthood is allowed to make a burnt offering. This is not part of the authority or function of the King.
1 Samuel 13:13 “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
Saul has 600 men left in his army and none of them have a sword except he and Jonathan because the Philistines have a blacksmith monopoly in order to keep Israel militarily weak. Jonathan leads the initial attack with his armor bearer and the success of these two men against 20 throw the Philistine camp into a panic and they flee. The victory goes to Israel.
Saul drifts farther and farther from God during his reign. He does not obey God in the battle with the Amalekites[2]. His men are made wealthy by keeping the plunder and livestock, which God has specifically told them not to keep, and Saul does not execute the King as instructed.
1 Samuel 15:10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.”
When Samuel arrives Saul swears he has kept the word of the Lord. But there the livestock are and there is King Agag, alive. When he begins to make excuses Samuel says”
1 Samuel 15:16 “Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied. 17 Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ 19 Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?”
Saul continues his denial by saying they took the best in order to offer it to Lord in thanksgiving for victory. Ouch!
Samuel declares these now famous words:
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.“
Saul had already lost his dynasty, now he is losing God’s blessing and he continues to spiral. The Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul making room for an evil spirit. Saul is tormented and probably depressive. David who has been his armor bearer now also becomes his musical therapy. David is drawn into the limelight when he kills Goliath and a long history of rivalry begins with David. Saul attempts to murder David and three times David refuses to assassinate Saul though he had the opportunity.
After Samuel’s death, Saul seeks out a witch to call up Samuel’s dead spirit. The Philistines are attacking and Saul knows God has turned away from him and no longer gives him direction. The dead Samuel rebukes him for calling up the dead, again breaking God’s law and tells him he will be defeated and it will be the judgment of God. God is tearing the kingdom from his hands and it will be given to another. He and all but his youngest son will die in this war.
Saul, first King of Israel, defender of his people, attempted murderer, unrepentant lawbreaker, seeker of witches and disappointment to God, commits suicide after being wounded in battle.
David 1011-971 B.C.
David! King beloved by God, Israel and Jesus is the second of the Kings that God did not want. But if Israel was to have a King then David was the best man God could recommend for the job.
David, the forgotten and possibly illegitimate son of Jesse, enters the service of Saul as a personal musician. He is also one of Saul’s armor bearers. David kills the Philistine giant with a slingshot and stone. He is a great military leader and delivers the Jews from the Philistines time and again. As his fame increases Saul’s jealousy grows and he begins to plot to kill David. David flees Israel to save his life.
In fleeing Saul, David has taken bread from the altar and the sword of Goliath from the priests of Nob. When Saul finds out he kills the entire family of the priests for assisting him. While living in exile David forms a private security company to provide protection from the communities around him. In this season David nearly murders Nabat for insulting he and his men and is only spared because Nabat’s wife intervenes. He acts like a “crazy man” to escape execution. To his credit, even though David has already been anointed to be Israel’s next King, he refuses many times to take the opportunity to kill Saul.
When Saul and his sons are dead David asks the Lord if it is time for him to return to Judah. The tribe of Judah makes David King but the northern tribes appoint Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s last son, as King with the encouragement of Abner, commander of Saul’s army. A divided Kingdom is again on the horizon. Ish-Bosheth rules in Mahanaim for two years and David is King of Judah in Hebron. David understands that the northern tribes have the right to reject or choose his leadership.
The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasts for more than seven years. Finally Abner crosses over to make a treaty with David. Abner convinces the northern tribes to accept David as King. Joab, David’s military commander assassinates Abner without permission from David. The King mourns Abner and disclaims any responsibility for Abner’s death. Amazingly, David keeps Joab on as military commander without consequence.
Ish-Bosheth is assassinated by Benjamites, and his head is taken to David as tribute and revenge on his enemy Saul. David is livid and executes the two assassins and makes a public spectacle of their bodies. David now becomes King of all of Israel. He is 30 years old.
David reconquers Jerusalem. He builds a palace in a walled fortress now called the city of David. He takes many concubines and wives to add to the three wives he already has. He begins to populate the earth with sons and daughters. God gives him tremendous victory over the Philistines and David decides to take the ark back from them with great fanfare. However, disaster occurs when one of the men carrying the ark drops dead. David is angry and afraid of the Lord and leaves the ark where they stopped.
David goes home to study the laws of Moses and when he returns three months later he makes sure the Levites are carrying the ark as prescribed by Moses. Like Saul, David has blurred the line between the Palace and the Priesthood.
Now that David is settled in his palace and has peace in the country he turns his ambition towards building a house for God. Nathan the prophet tells him to go for it, but that night God speaks to Nathan in his sleep. The message is that God will bless David greatly in establishing Israel and the Kingdom but he is not chosen to build the temple. His son will do that. David’s humility is obvious in his prayer in response to the Lord.
David’s military victories continue. He establishes the borders of Israel. He finds out his great friend Jonathan had a son who survived, Saul’s grandson, and to honor his friend he brings the crippled Mephibosheth into the palace and makes him part of his court.
David’s family story is not glorious. His wife Michael, Saul’s daughter, worships idols and despises David. David commits adultery with Bathsheba and then proceeds to make sure Uriah is killed in battle to cover her pregnancy. This child dies. Bathsheba gives him a second son, Solomon. David’s son Amnon rapes his half sister Tamar, Absalom’s sister. David does nothing to deal with Amnon nor care for Tamar in spite of the Law that says he must marry her and a brewing bitterness begins in Absalom. Absalom begins to plot against Amnon and David. Assasinating the first and leading a military coup against his father. David flees and is spared complete defeat because Absalom listens to bad council.
Absalom sleeps with his father’s concubines as an insult to his father. David regroups his military. Under Joab’s leadership they defeat the troops of Absalom and Joab personally kills Absalom in spite of the direct order from David to capture him alive. Joab is angry with David for dishonoring the troops that have saved his Kingdom and he rebukes him. David is angry with Joab but again does nothing to him and, again, leaves him as head of his army.
As David attempts to reunite Israel, civil war breaks out with the Benjamites under the leadership of Sheba. Sheba’s army is defeated and he is beheaded as a peace offering from the city of Abel Beth Maacah.
As David’s reign comes to a close he is forced to deal with the Gibeonites that had a treaty with Joshua to live in peace in Israel but had been attacked by Saul breaking the treaty. God brings famine in order to draw attention to the injustice. The Gibeonites accept the death of seven of Saul’s family in retribution. In spite of the Law that says a son should not die for the sins of the father.
David brings judgment on Israel again by disobeying the Lord in taking a census of the military. David waits too long for succession and another son, Adonijah, nearly starts a second rebellion before David turns the kingdom over to Solomon.
David was a great poet, a worshipper, a military giant, an adulterer and murderer, and husband to 700 women. He was father to a rapist, a murder, and treasonous and incestuous sons. Inconsistent follower of the Law dies. He ruled Israel for 40 years.
Solomon 971-931 B.C.
Solomon takes Israel to its highest development in all of Jewish history. Spared from the destruction of fratricide by, his mother, Bathsheba’s intervention with the aged David, Solomon is made King. He is the chosen of God to lead Israel into the next generation. He takes the throne in the midst of a rebellious coup led by his brother Adonijah.
David charges Solomon to lead from the decrees, commands and requirement of the Law of Moses. If he, Solomon, will be faithful to them, God will be faithful to Solomon and the continuation of his throne in Israel. David leaves Solomon with a long list of grievances to resolve including Joab’s betrayal and a list of blessings for those who have been loyal to him.
Solomon’s attempts to rehabilitate his brother Adonijah fail and he is executed for treason. Joab who has conspired with Adonijah is executed. Solomon finishes his palace, the temple of the Lord and the wall around the Jerusalem. But there is a problem:
1 Kings 3:2 “The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. 3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.” 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
DO YOU SEE THIS!!!!
Solomon is in the middle of offering 1,000 sacrifices in Israel’s high places when God speaks to him in a dream. Solomon has married Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sideonites, Hittites and Egyptians and he followed all their gods! But God desires to bless Israel in spite of the idolatry of their leader and the people.
In the dream Solomon prays: 1 Kings 3:7 “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
We often focus on the humility Solomon showed in his prayer and it was a humble prayer. But he was being humble in the middle of pagan idolatry and he is being humble in his sleep. It is God who is faithful and pursues Solomon, not faithful Solomon who pursues God. There are no heroes here except God!
1Kings3:10 “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.”
It looks like Solomon realized he was in the wrong place making his offerings.
Solomon had “discernment in administering justice” but wisdom in very little else. There is peace throughout most of his rule and because of that he is able to focus his attention on national development. Besides the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, Solomon creates a systematic infrastructure for governance and economics that is the greatest in the world at the time. The Queen of Sheba, modern day Yemen, comes north to visit this notorious Kingdom and concludes:
1 Kings 10:6 … “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.”
The promise of God in the wilderness has been fulfilled. He has made Israel a great nation, one of the greatest of this time. But meanwhile God is repeating over and over again:
1 Kings 3:14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.
1 Kings 6:11 The word of the LORD came to Solomon: 12 “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. 13 And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
1 Kings 9:4 “As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 “But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 8 And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 9 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.’ “
God’s desire for the nation is sustainable development for generations. The system they have chosen will bless them for a time. But will it continue?
1Kings 11:9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command. 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime.”
God raises up an enemy for Israel in the Edomites and an enemy for the House of Solomon in Jeroboam. Jeroboam supervises construction of Solomon’s terraces. God speaks to Him that He will divide the Kingdom and give part of it to Jeroboam to lead. Solomon tries to kill Jeroboam but he flees to Egypt and exile until the King is dead.
Solomon, son of adulterers, husband of a 1,000 wives and concubines, builder of the Temple, wisdom of Israel, worshiper of the idolatrous high places, worshiper of the gods of his wives, builder of new pagan shrines, dies. Solomon reigned in Israel for 40 years.
So, what is God highlighting?
There is no end to the depth of what God can reveal from His word, but at this stage of my learning here are some of the things I see:
- God will honor his designation of political authority to the people being governed regardless of their choices. But the consequences of those choices stand.
- Though God disagrees with the choices a people make He will still do His best to bless them within those choices. He seeks to mitigate the damages.
- When we add layers of authority to God’s system of governance we add layers of change that are required for blessing. Not only the people must change but the executive must as well.
- God will indicate the best political leader to choose, but “best” is very different than good.
- When the people cry out for God’s help He will work through a bad leader.
- Unlike the Judges, as we move into the time of the Kings we hear less and less but often the words, “and the people cried out to the Lord.”
- The Kings at their best always return to the Law for their council and instruction. And in that sense, success and failure can have the same root.
- Undealt with insurrection will never go away it will return with a vengeance at a future date.
- Political enemies are often (always?) from God. The question is not only how do we deal with our enemy? But, what is God saying to us through our enemy?
- It took three generations of relative peace to build up the nation to this degree.
- Any system may build a nation up but is it sustainable.
At this point in Israel’s history we may think that God has made a mistake in the disapproving of a King. Look at what they have accomplished. They are the nation God promised them they would be in the wilderness. Aren’t they?
The Kings continue.
