#62 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – September 29, 2002 p.m.

WHEN ISRAEL WANTED A GOVERNMENT LIKE THE WORLD SYSTEM

The title of this message is "When Israel Wanted a Government Like the World System." The monarchial form of government was almost the exclusive form of the governments of the world system during the Old Testament era. Israel had been governed in Jehovah's theocracy by divinely appointed leadership beginning with Moses progressing to Joshua and continuing through the judges. Samuel was the last divinely appointed judge. Samuel appointed his two sons to be judges and they judged from Beersheba about 50 miles from Ramah where Samuel lived and from which he judged. They proved to be evil failures as judges so the nation approached its elders to go to Samuel to seek a monarchy just like the nations of the world system had. Certain consequences could be expected if the nation had a king. Even so Israel insisted that they wanted a king.

1 Samuel 8:1-9 describes the rejection of the rule of Jehovah by the nation and demand for a monarchy. Verse one clearly states that Samuel had placed his sons as judges (rather than Jehovah). Evidently he was attempting to establish a dynasty of judges. Throughout the history of judges there was no family link between the individual judges. They were divinely appointed for a purpose at a specific time and for a specific purpose in a specific region of the land. These sons judged from Beersheba that was nearly 50 miles away from Samuel and his judging circuit from his home in Ramah (7:15-17). Samuel's sons did not walk in his ways and reached out for or turned to dishonest gain and they took a bribe (a collective singular indicating that this was a characteristic of the two of them). They also turned aside or stretched judgment or that which was a right decision. The elders of Israel came to Samuel and pled their case. Samuel was old. His sons were not walking in his ways. They ask that he place for them a king LIKE ALL THE NATIONS i. e. the nations of the world system. Samuel's immediate perception was that this was evil and as a prophet he communicated with Jehovah. Essentially Jehovah told Samuel not to take their seeking a king to judge personally. The fact was that they were rejecting Jehovah and His theocratic rule over them (vs. 7). Israel has consistently rejected Jehovah for other gods from the time that Jehovah had brought them out of Egypt (vs. 8). He instructs Samuel to listen to their request but to give an answer or refutation by showing them the rights that a king would have who was placed over them.

II. gives the details of Samuel's response and a description of what the nation could expect from a king. The cost was great. He would conscript their sons for governmental and military service. They would become lowly servants of the king. He would conscript them for his planting and harvesting (vs. 12). This would deprive the family of important help at crucial times in an agricultural society. Their sons would be in service to the king at time of plowing, planting and harvesting. They would also be involved in making instruments of war and for his chariots. Their daughters would be conscripted as perfumers, cooks and bakers. A king would condemn and posses their lands (fields, vineyards, olive orchards) by a kind of law of eminent domain. This would directly take away their livelihood (vs. 14). He will levy a 10% tax in addition to the taxes prescribed in the Mosaic Law to support his government and his bureaucracy. Verse 15 indicates that it would be given to his eunuchs and servants which were key persons in his bureaucracy. A king will take the slaves and livestock belonging to the people. Again this would deprive the Israelites of the help necessary to function in an agricultural society. Verse 18 indicates that the choice of a king was the choice of the people and so their responsibility. When they tire of the tyranny of the king and cry out to Jehovah, He promises that He will not respond to their cry. The pattern of servitude leading to a cry to Jehovah was established in the cycles of sin recorded in the book of Judges. Their desire for a monarchy like the nations of the world system was no surprise to Jehovah. He had anticipated this in Deuteronomy 17.

In Deuteronomy 17 Jehovah gave statutes that were designed to control the king and to isolate him by the Law from the nations of the world system. In verse 14 Jehovah predicts that Israel would seek to have a king. They were to have no foreigner but an Israelite as king (vs. 15). He was not to increase the number of his horses with military ambitions by sending his people to Egypt for horses. He was not to multiply wives as the potentates of the nations did. He was not to accumulate wealth which would distract him from Jehovah (vs. 17). He was to continue to support the Mosaic Law. It appears that the requirement was that the king have a copy of the Torah made for him and kept in his palace for his continuous study. This kept him and the nation in the yoke of bondage that was the law. These were clear restrictions that prevented the nation from having a king that was wholly like the kings of the nations of the world system.

IV. describes the reaction of the people to his arguments against a king. They refused to obey or listen to the voice of Samuel. They say, "No! A king will be over us (literal translation -- vs. 19)." The reason is "THAT WE MAY BE LIKE THE NATIONS." Furthermore this king would act as judge, go out for the nation and fight the battles for the nation (vs. 20). The result was that Jehovah instructed Samuel to make them a king (of Jehovah's choosing).

V. provides some illustrations from Scripture of how Samuel's predictions concerning a king actually came true. The first king, Saul, conscripted any able man he found into his army in 1 Sam. 14:52. Jezebel used the authority of Ahab to expropriate property from Nabal in 1 Kings 21:7, 8. Solomon expropriated many taxes from the people even beyond the predicted 10% (1 Ki. 5:13-16). Rehoboam his son was far worse (1 Ki. 12:6-15) and this led to the division of the kingdom. Two tribes remained under Rehoboam while the ten other tribes followed Jeroboam. The world system controls by taking whatever it wants from its subjects. This is especially true of human government. Israel wanted to be like the nations and the government of the world system. They suffered the consequences. The early kings eventually disobeyed the divine regulations that were provided to keep the monarchy of Israel distinct from the monarchies of the world system. The monarchy satisfied an appetite of the sin nature. The people were satisfied yet they suffered greatly for their rejection of Jehovah as their monarch in their history.

Enjoying the treasure of the Indwelling Christ in a clay pot,

DKS

WHEN ISRAEL WANTED A GOVERNMENT LIKE THE WORLD SYSTEM

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To show the inherent characteristics of the monarchial forms of government of the world system as marked in the rejection of pure theocracy for a theocratic monarchy. To demonstrate that the government of all the nations was a monarchy that was a part of the Satanic world system.

Introduction

A. The Continuation of a Monarchial Form of Government Among the Nations

B. The Concern of the People Because of the Inequities of Samuel's Sons

C. The Call for a Government Like All of the Nations

D. The Consequences of the Governments of the Nations Explained

E. The Certainty of Israel's Desire for a King

TRANS: One of the clearest descriptions of the government of the world system is seen in the desire of the nation Israel for a king like the nations had. They saw a monarch as a solution for all of their problems and so approach Samuel asking that he become a kingmaker.

I. THE DESIRE OF ISRAEL FOR A MONARCHIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE WILLFUL SUBSTITUTION OF THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF ALL THE NATIONS – A REJECTION OF THE RULE BY JEHOVAH BY THE NATION ISRAEL AT THE END OF SAMUEL'S JUDGING – 1 Samuel 8:1-9

A. The Problem with Samuel's Sons as Successors in Judging Israel – 8:1-3

1. Samuel Placed His Sons as Judges for Israel – vs. 1

2. His Two Sons Judged in Beersheba – vs. 2

3. His Sons Did Not Walk in His Ways – vs. 3

a. Turned Toward or Reached Out for Dishonest Gain or Profit

b. Took a Bribe(s)

c. Twisted Judgment

B. The Presentation of the Elders of Israel to Samuel in Ramah – 8:4, 5

1. Their Coming to Samuel – vs. 4

2. Their Case Before Samuel – vs. 5

a. You Are Old

b. Your Sons Do Not Walk in your Ways

c. Make for Us a King

(1) To Judge Us

(2) LIKE ALL THE NATIONS

C. The Samuel's Perception of Their Evil and His Prayer – 8:6

D. Jehovah's Program for the Nation – 8:7-9

1. They Have Rejected Jehovah as King [not Samuel] – vs. 7

2. They Have Forsaken Jehovah and Served Other Gods from Egypt to You – vs. 8

3. You Will Hear Their Voice and Answer Them

4. You Will Show Them the Judgment/Manner/Right of the King Who Will Rule Over

Them

TRANS: Jehovah instructed Samuel to give the elders of the people and so the people a list of the negative results of having a king. Even so He affirmed that they would persist in seeking for a king. Samuel's answer was based on the fact that their desire was evil in his eyes.

II. THE DETAILS OF HOW A MONARCH WILL RULE LIKE THE MONARCHS OF THE NATIONS – THE OBJECTIVE STATEMENT OF CONDITIONS THAT RESULT FROM HAVING A KING – THE RELATIONSHIP OF A KING OVER HIS SUBJECTS IN THE WORLD SYSTEM – 1 Samuel 8:10-18

A. Conscription of Sons for His Purposes – 8:11, 12

1. For Himself

a. In His Chariot [a reference to governmental service]

b. In His Horsemen

c. To Run Before His Chariots

2. For His Armies and Labors [military and agricultural service]

a. To Plow His Plowing

b. To Reap His Reaping

c. To Make His Instruments of War and of His Chariots

B.Conscription of Daughters for His Service – 8:13

1. As Perfumers

2. As Cooks

3. As Bakers

C. Condemnation and Possession of Your Best Sources of Livelihood – 8:14

D. Taxation of Seed, Vineyards and Animals – 8:15, 17

E. Possession of Your Laborers and Animals for His Work – 8:16

F. Prediction That When Israel Cries Out Concerning Their King That Jehovah Will Not Hear – 8:18

TRANS: Jehovah had already anticipated the desire of the nation Israel for a king like the nations in the world system. He gave specific limits that were to be placed on a king that were reactionary to the normal characteristics of the government of the world system.

III. THE DIRECTIONS IN THE LAW CONCERNING A KING – THE PREDICTIVE STATUTES CONCERNING MAKING A KING DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE RESTRICTIONS CONCERNING A KING IN THE LAND BY ISRAEL – Deuteronomy 17:14-20

A. Prediction Concerning Seeking a King – 17:14

B. Program for an Israelite King and No Stranger – 17:15

C. Prohibition of Multiplication of Horses with Military Ambitions – 17:16

D. Prohibition of Multiplying Wives for Himself – 17:17a

E. Prohibition of Multiplication of Wealth – 17:17b

F. Promote and Maintain the Yoke of the Law All the Days of His Life – 17:18-20

TRANS: Israel as a whole would not be convinced that a monarchy was unacceptable. They insisted that they be like the nations of the world system. They confront this with a great emphasis focusing on being like the nations of the world system.

IV. THE DETERMINATION OF ISRAEL TO HAVE A MONARCH LIKE THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE ONGOING STUBBORNNESS OF THE NATION TO HAVE A KING – THE REFUSAL TO LISTEN TO SAMUEL CONCERNING A KING – 1 Samuel 8:19-22

A. The Strong Negative Response vs. 19

1. No!

2. A King Will Be Over Us [lit.]

B. The Reasons Given by the People

1. WE MAY BE LIKE ALL OF THE NATIONS

2. That Our King May Judge Us

3. That Our King Will Go Out for Us

4. That Our King Will Fight Our Battles

C. The Result = Make Them a King

TRANS: Scripture reveals that the kings of Israel and the divided kingdoms really fulfilled the predictions made by Samuel concerning the pressures placed on the nation. When they determined to emulate the world system, Israel received the same results that existed in the world system. Normally the benefits they expected from the king were far less than the evils that accrued to them.

V. THE DOMINATION OF THE MONARCH ILLUSTRATED AS WORKING AS IT DID IN THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE ACTUAL SUBORDINATION OF THE NATION TO THE KING – THE REALIZATION OF THE PREDICTIONS MADE BY SAMUEL

A. Example of Conscription Into the Military by King Saul – 1 Samuel 14:52

B. Example of Expropriation of Property

1. 1 Kings 21:7, 8: The Example

2. Ezek. 46:18: The Future Exception

C. Example of Inequities in the Monarchy

1. Solomon – 1 Kings 5:13-16

2. Rehoboam – 1 Kings 12:6-15

3. Divine Division of the Kingdom – 1 Kings 12:15

TRANS: Human nature i. e. the sin nature seeks to find its own gratification in many ways. Israel was convinced that a king would be better than Jehovah and Jehovah's way of doing things. The nation was convinced that the world system's methods and institutions were better that what they had had under Samuel.

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119