God's Prescriptive Law for a National Leader

(courtesy of Mayfair Gallery)

The Law of the Administration of the King

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 -- Gems and Thoughts from the Passage

First I note the implication in verse 14 -- it was going to be the people (the Israelites) that wanted a king to rule over them. God would have preferred that they be ruled directly by Him through the priestly order (the Levites) that He had set up.  But if they wanted one, here's how it was to be. . . 

Verse 15 -- this king would be appointed by God from among their own countrymen. No foreigners would do for this job. It is interesting that progressive Canada allows any Canadian citizen to become Prime Minister while the United States requires their President to be born in the country. It seems that God intended the same criteria for the Israelites.

Verse 16 -- the appointed king was not to get rich as a result of his appointment.  (See also the end of verse 17.) Well, Canada has blown that especially with the current leader, and the U.S. seems to have failed here too in many instances.  People seem to enter politics with a limited amount of money, accept a decent salary, and then somehow turn out to be millionaires and billionaires while in office.

Verse 16 -- also warns that the king of the Israelites was never to return to Egypt, first because God had said they were never to return there, but secondly, because God doesn't want leaders or us to dwell on our past, but rather to focus on what He would have us do today and in the future.

Verse 17 -- the king was not to "multiply wives for himself".  The idea here was not that a king could only have one wife.  There was a custom in those days that allowed for more than one. But the point was that the kind would not add on wives simply for his own desire or pleasure because the chances were that such wives would come from heathen nations or nations that worshipped Baal and God did not want the kind to  "turn his heart away" from Him. Such relationships have a way of doing just that.

Verse 18 -- it was the custom in those days (one that continued for many years thereafter) that a king would have to personally 'scribe' out or write in his own handwriting the entire Law as given by God through Moses. And he would do it in the presence of the Levitical priests.  This was to indicate his personal commitment to the Law.

Verse 19 -- he would have this copy with him at all times; he would read it regularly; and by observing and obeying it, he would learn to fear the Lord God all his life.  Oh, that our leaders would do so.  Oh, that our church leaders would do so.  Oh, that we would do so.

Verse 20 -- but in the king's case (or in the leader's case) reading it would also prevent the king's heart from being "lifted up above his countrymen" and that he would stick to the straight and narrow way of the law.  And to what end?  So that he and his sons may rule the people a long time.

Wrap-Up

That is kind of king or ruler the true people of God need.  That is the kind of leader God's people want. Is it too late? No.  I believe that if enough Americans or Canadians humble themselves and adhere themselves to these instructions, and seek God's blessing of such a leader, we will have one. What's your take?

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.