Concerning Kings

In Deuteronomy God lays out the requirements, qualifications and obligations for a civil ruler. God is very specific when it comes to these qualifications for a Godly ruler. Do you know what God requires? Did you know that God even had anything to say about the subject?

1. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 - 14 “When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. 18 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 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 that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.

God requires that a king, civil ruler, politician, etc. possess the following characteristics:

1. He must be chosen by God, not by the people
2. He must be one of you, he must not be a foreigner
3. He shall not multiply horses for himself
4. He shall not require the people to return to slavery to multiply horses for him
5. He shall not multiply wives for himself
6. He shall not greatly multiply gold and silver for himself
7. He shall write a copy of (God's) law for himself
8. He shall read God's law everyday
9. He shall learn to fear the Lord
10. He must be careful to observe and obey all the words of God's law and statutes
11. He shall not lift himself or be lifted above the people he is to serve

This seems to be a peculiar set of standards. It doesn't say that he should be a licensed attorney or lawyer. It doesn't say that he should be born of royal blood. It doesn't say he should be voted into office. Let's look at the reason why God would make such statements.

He must be chosen by God, not by the people

1. This should be quite obvious. God is sovereign. He knows what is best. He knows who is best to lead a people. We are not to decide who our leader should be among ourselves with a vote per se. But rather we are to seek the face of God, and hear whom He has chosen.

He must be one of you, he must not be a foreigner

1. This is fairly reasonable as well. Why would they want a leader or ruler who was raised contrary to God's laws and statutes? His allegiance must be to God and to his brothers.

He shall not multiply horses for himself

1. Horses are symbolic of an army. God makes it quite clear that the king is to depend upon the defense of God, and a militia. He is not to build a standing army for himself.

He shall not require the people to return to slavery to multiply horses for him

1. The king is not build a standing army. Further, he is not to employ or enslave the people to be the army for his own purposes.

He shall not multiply wives for himself

1. The king shall be faithful. He shall be the husband of one wife. If the king will not be faithful to the wife of his youth, if he will not honor or protect her, what will he do to/for the people. He will treat the people the same. He will not be faithful to the good of the people.

He shall not greatly multiply gold and silver for himself

1. The king shall not have any other gods before the one true God. With the abundance of wealth comes power. With power comes authority. The king is not to be tempted to seek selfish gain by abusing the power that he has been given. Therefore his power must be limited.

He shall write a copy of (God's) law for himself

1. This is to let the king know that he is to rule by God's law. Writing it aids in memory.

He shall read God's law everyday

1. He shall come to know and love the law of the Lord. He shall meditate upon it day and night. He shall read it because he is bound to perform it.

He shall learn to fear the Lord

1. The king shall walk in the fear of the Lord. This will keep him humble, and doing the Lord's will as opposed to his own.

He must be careful to observe and obey all the words of God's law and statutes

1. If he doesn't obey, judgment is promised as his reward. Conversely there is blessing in observing the law of God.

He shall not lift himself or be lifted above the people he is to serve

1. The king shall be a servant to the people. He shall not think highly of himself, but shall rather follow the example of Christ and lay his life down for those he is to serve.

Now, let me ask you a question. How many of these standards does the man you voted into office meet? Any of them? If he got one or two he'd be doing pretty good in comparison to his comrades.

Now, let me ask another question. How many of these standards does your pastor meet?

(ROUGH DRAFT - TO BE FURTHER AMENDED)