No ordinary fiefdom

Israel needs great leadership like that of King David, who showed us not to expect perfection, but was willing to sacrifice for his people.

By DAVID PARSONS
Samuel annoints King David 311 (photo credit: biblicalgenealogy.kavonrueter.com)
Samuel annoints King David 311
(photo credit: biblicalgenealogy.kavonrueter.com)
Parsons is media director for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem;
www.icej.org
There are important lessons from the life and ministry of Samuel which are extremely relevant today as world leaders take their respective stands regarding the current heated battle over the restored nation of Israel.
Samuel is a remarkable biblical figure who oversaw Israel’s transition from a council of elders or “judges” to a kingdom ruled by a hereditary monarch.
Until then, wise and anointed leaders had been entrusted with overseeing the nation, which was set apart and “not reckoned among the nations” (Numbers 23:9). This was because God Himself was their King! Beginning with Moses, God had provided for the Israelites in the wilderness and led them into the Land of Canaan through Judges who could hear His voice.
This system of governance “peaked” under Samuel, who presided over an era when Israel had almost possessed the land, was prevailing over the Philistines and other enemies, enjoyed harmony in the ranks, and recognized the prophetic voice to the nation. But as the prophet grew old and his sons lapsed into corruption, the people cried out for a king, to be like the surrounding nations.
Surprisingly, God instructed Samuel to “heed the voice of the people, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). Yet the prophet must also give the Israelites a stern warning of the abuses they will suffer under self-indulgent kings. And they are immediately given a merciless example in the very flawed character of King Saul.
Now I believe Israel was destined to transition to kingship, when the time and personalities were right. The prophet Balaam foretold that “[Israel’s] king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted” (Numbers 24:7).
Israel’s lack of a king is presented as undesirable in the account of an internal war against the Benjamites for raping a woman to death. This sordid tale concludes with the words: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
But more importantly, a kingly line was to prove necessary in order to pave the way for the promised Messiah – a coming Prophet, Priest and King all wrapped into one. The emergence of David as Saul’s successor was to provide a prototype of this future Messiah. Indeed, King David’s reign remains the pinnacle of the ancient commonwealth of Israel and the model to which many Jews still aspire today.
David was naturally gifted with skills and positive character traits that suited him well for this role. But he also was able to quickly learn vital lessons from the mistakes of Saul. There are too many to mention here, but one was that being king of Israel is not like being the king of any other nation. This was not his personal fiefdom, where the people would be subject to his every whim and fancy.
We see this at play in David’s decision to pour out the water from the well of Bethlehem which his most valiant men had risked their lives to collect just so he could satisfy an old craving from his youth (2 Samuel 23:13-17).
No, Israel was different from other nations! It was set apart, God’s “special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6). And the king of this people had to realize this, as David did when receiving the promise of the messianic line: “Who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people...” (2 Samuel 7:23).
Today, the restored nation of Israel is in great need of such leadership. Even David was flawed, and so we should not expect perfection. But, oh, to have leaders willing to pour themselves out of all personal ambition and pride for the sake of steering Israel toward its prophetic destiny in God.
The world, too, is in great need of leadership that recognizes Israel is different, set apart; that this is no ordinary fiefdom which the world can kick around according to its whims and fancies.