AM Bible Study Group; August 3, 2011
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Theme: In this passage, God gives instructions regarding the conduct of Israel’s king.
Some scholars have thought that this morning’s passage must have been something that was written back into the writings of Moses at a later date; because the things it says proved to be sadly like the behavior of the kings of Israel in later times—particularly in the case of Solomon. But there’s really no reason to suspect these words aren’t genuine. The things Moses warned about have been remarkable with respect the fallen hearts of earthly kings.
But what is remarkable is that such unusual laws where put into place at all; so as to distinguish the behavior of the kings of Israel from those of other nations. These laws made it clear that the king of Israel was not the final authority; but was an authority under God.
I. THE DESIRE FOR A KING PREDICTED (v. 14).
A. At the time that these words were written, Israel had no king. Nor would it have a king for another four and a half centuries. After the times of Moses and Joshua, the people were under the direct rule of God through judges that He raised up for the people. But Moses—under the inspiration of God—foretold the time when the people would long to follow the example of the pagan nations around them, and to place themselves under the rule of a human king (v. 15). This finally came to pass in the times of Samuel; and it resulted in the enthronement of Saul over the people of Israel. Their choice of Saul was, in effect, a rejection of God’s rule over them (1 Samuel 8:1-22; see especially v. 7)—a choice that they later deeply regretted.
B. Thus God gives these laws regarding a king over Israel not as a command, but as a concession. But note the cooperation of the people with the sovereignty of God in it. They were to choose a king, but it was to be the king God chose for them. It was to be, as Moses said, one "whom the LORD your God chooses" that they "set as king over" themselves (see 1 Samuel 10:17-24).
II. THE INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE KING THEY CHOOSE (vv. 15-20).
A. He shall be chosen from among the people (v. 15). Moses makes it very clear that the king they were to set over themselves was to be a king that they choose from among their own people. They were not to set a foreigner over themselves, but a king from among their own brethren. Even with respect to a king, they were still to remain God’s chosen and separate people.
B. He shall not multiply horses to himself (v. 16). The accumulation of horses was a vain display of power as well as affluence. It would not be wrong for the king to build up a cavalry for his army; but he was not to multiply horses as his own personal possessions. Moses specified that the king was not to purchase horses for himself from Egypt. This was where some of the finest horses in the world were bred—as the Jewish people, recently delivered from bondage to Egypt, would have known well. To have developed the habit of purchasing horses for himself from Egypt would have required the forming of an alliance with their former slave-masters; and they were not to "return that way again". Sadly, this command was directly disobeyed by Solomon; who became deeply engaged in business with Egypt (see 1 Kings 10:28-29).
C. He shall not multiply wives to himself (v. 17a). To multiply wives would have implied, in some respect, the forming of alliances with foreign nations. This would have violated Israels covenant as a distinct people unto God (see Deuteronomy 7:1-5). It would also have involved the king in the danger of being pulled away spiritually from a devotion to God and toward the false gods of their foreign wives. A disobedience to this command was what led to King Solomon’s downfall (see 1 Kings 11:1-13).
D. He shall not greatly multiply silver and gold for himself (v. 17b). This was not a command forbidding the building up of the treasury of his own nation. Rather, it was a command forbidding him from accumulating great wealth for himself; which would be a distraction from his duties as king. Although it isn’t said so in Scripture, it may be that the greatness of Solomon’s riches may have been a part of what turned his heart away from God (see 1 Kings 10:14-27). It’s clear that the almost unlimited luxury in which Solomon lived had come to have a significant impact upon his soul (see Ecclesiastes 2:1-26).
E. He shall make a copy of the law for himself and read it regularly (vv. 18-20). In order for the heart of the king to be protected from the spiritual dangers that accompanied his position of power, wealth and authority, the king was commanded—immediately upon sitting upon his throne to begin his reign—to write a copy of the book of God’s law for himself. This may have been written for him; but it may also mean that he was personally to copy it by hand. He was to copy it from the original that was in the possession of the Levites. We’re told of how this happened in the experience of King Joash (see 2 Kings 11:12). This copy of the law was to be with the king and he was to read it all his days for three vital reasons: (1) that he might conduct his rule in obedience to God ("that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes"; (2) that he might be kept humble and not seek to be a law unto himself ("that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left"); and (3) that he may live long and be a blessing to his people ("and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel") (vv. 19-20).
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Doesn’t this all make us long for the King God has promised who will truly be all that God wants a king to be for us? As Zechariah 9:9-10 of Him; "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth."