Old Testament Observations
In our efforts to search the scriptures after lunch, we have been exploring the nation of Israel during the time of the kings. The question was asked: “What do we make of all this? Is it just a history lesson? Or is there a way to apply this testimony to our lives today?” I suspect many have this question and so we’ve spent time discussing how the tale of Israel can be applied to our current circumstances. In so doing we’re not treating Israel as some metaphor for current geo-politics or a prophetic word that predicts future events. Rather, we are considering it in an ecclesiastical sense - an affirmation that there’s nothing new under the sun.
LeaRning from Israelite History
To draw that out a little more, I have found it helpful to keep a few things in mind when reading through the books of Kings and Chronicles.
Resist the urge to think, “Israel was so foolish. I would never be like that.” At times I have referred to this tendency as projecting main-character energy or hero-status onto yourself. An example would be to assume that you would have been with Joshua and Caleb when it came time to cast your vote on whether or not to enter the land of Canaan. It is very short-sighted to place yourself into the role of the brave hero. The truth is that heroes are few and far between. Moreover, it is easier to consider yourself a stand-up protagonist than to step into that role in real life. Rather than adopting this attitude, I think it far better to…
Ask yourself the question, “In what ways have I acted in the same foolish manner as Israel?” Or perhaps better still, “In what ways am I currently acting like foolish Israel?” The nation of Israel under the Old Covenant is in many respects a metaphor for spiritual Israel under the new covenant. It is a lesson about how God’s people act when they follow the inclinations of their remaining carnal nature rather than following the precepts of God in discipleship.
Notice the Ecclesiastical themes that emerge from the story of Israel. As a child of the 80's, I'm reminded of the Talking Heads song Once in a Lifetime and its repeated refrain: “Same as it ever was.” Don’t let the different historical setting distract you. Some political observations are similar in every era of human history as a result of our fallen condition. Truly, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Some OBSERVATIONS Noted Thus Far
Obedience to God is peculiar. Had Israel lived as God told them to live, they would have been a spectacle on the geo-political landscape. A nation without a king, whose God protected them from the threat of other nations. How the world might have marveled at this arrangement. “What on earth is going on in THAT place?” Both Paul and Peter associate that “peculiarity” with the produce of “good works” that “shew forth” a testimony about the goodness of the God who saves by his grace (Titus 2:4, I Peter 2:9). We should embrace our peculiarity. It is an essential part of the Christian testimony.
Beware the desire to be like everyone else. Rather than obey God, Israel time and again proved that it preferred rebellious idolatry. After the Judges, they concluded that they needed a king, just like everyone else (I Samuel 8:5). Rather than looking to the evident source of their trouble (their own sinful rebellion) they sought a solution in a different political structure. But God’s way is better than the popular way and God’s people are ever-inclined to follow the broad way rather than manage the difficulty of entering at the strait gate (Luke 13:24). Nevertheless we are called to that latter service.
Be careful what you ask. You might just get it. Equipped with a desire to be like all the other nations, Israel asked God to give them a king (I Samuel 8:5). The Lord granted them their wish and even warned them that this would mean (I Samuel 8:10-18). But having an earthly king is an expensive proposition. Kings have needs. They must defend the kingdom and run its affairs. They acquire their resources from their own kingdom, usually through a combination of conscription and heavy taxation, as well as by violent conquest. Both of these methods come at a tremendous price to the citizenry. After serving the kings of Israel, I wonder how many of God’s people thought, “We would have been better off having no king and just obeying the Lord”?
God is merciful and longsuffering, even toward his rebellious people. Even in the midst of their rebellious desire to have a king, the Lord reaffirms his arrangement with them. He chose “choice” and “goodly” Saul (I Samuel 9:2), equipped him for leadership (I Samuel 10:6-7), and renewed the arrangement that if they would follow the Lord they would be blessed (I Samuel 12:14-15).
You asked for it, you got it. In the 1970’s, Toyota ran a series of ads promoting their cars with the tag line, “You asked for it. You got it. Toyota.” This was in response to the need for smaller, less-expensive, more reliable, more fuel efficient automobiles which US auto manufacturers were reluctant to produce. In that example, one could argue that what consumers were asking for was a good thing, but in the case of Israel, they wanted a superficial change that had nothing to do with the problems they were experiencing. The result was a woeful state that haunted them for centuries.
Most political leaders are bad. A quick examination of the kings of the unified kingdom reveals that they all had serious problems. Saul was inclined to follow the “seems right” doctrine (I Samuel 15:9) which led to his ultimate rejection by God (I Samuel 15:26). David was a man after God’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14) but he was also a murderous adulterer who wrecked his family and did irreparable damage to the kingdom (II Samuel 12:10-12). Solomon was wise above all men (I Kings 3:12), yet his wisdom did not resist the lure of strange women idolatry that led him into idolatry (I Kings 11:1-8). The divided kingdom did not fare any better. ALL of the kings of Israel were bad and most of the kings of Judah were as well.
Even the good kings were not able to eliminate ALL the problems. The good kings of Judah had their problems also. They addressed several matters in a way that brought Judah back into obedience (I Kings 15:12) but they did not fix everything (I Kings 15:14).
Rebellion can reach a point of no return. This is a frightful observation about the temporal consequences of sin for God’s people. It is one that many Christians are loath to confront. It is well established in the bible. The Israelites refused to cross the Jordan due to the fearful report of the Canaanites dwelling therein (Numbers 14:2-4). After hearing that they would not be allowed to enter due to their rebellion (Numbers 14:39) the people changed their minds and decided they would enter Canaan after all (Numbers 14:40), but it was too little, too late. They had reached the point of no return. The punishment for their persistent rebellion was now certain. The same thing happened to Saul as a result of persistent rebellion (I Samuel 15:26). Hebrews 10 speaks of the dreadful nature of temporal punishment that can come upon God’s people who persist in rebellion:
”For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31)
Notice that “we” (v26) is in reference to “brethren” (v19).
These are regenerate sheep who have “received the knowledge of the truth” (v26)
It follows that the judgment is temporal not eternal (John 10:28).
The reference to the Mosaic Law is a temporal punishment (v28).
This is all affirmed by the fact that is is “His people” who are judged (v30).
Finally
These are a few of the observations noted in our explorations in I Kings and II Kings. I doubt we’ve even scratched the surface of what is available for us to learn from these texts. Paul wrote,
”For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
I hope to draw more lessons from the Old Testament accounts of the nation of Israel in the coming weeks. The political strife and uncertainty that faces our nation is distressing to many. Nevertheless I believe that when we look back to the time of Israel, we find that similar issues were around even in their day; “Same as it ever was.” Consider how things might have been very different for the nation of Israel had they followed God’s instruction. That thought should inspire our commitment to the kingdom of God as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. We may face unpleasant temporal circumstances in our nation as a result of bad politicians and rampant ungodliness, but we should never forget that we are citizens of a city whose builder and maker is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Hebrews 11:10, Revelation 19:16) and the promise that the government shall be upon his shoulder (Isaiah 9:6). We won’t be dealing with this earthly mess too much longer (Psalm 90:10). Indeed, “There is coming a day…” is there not? Wherefore comfort on another with these words (I Thessalonians 4:18).
- Elder Daniel Samons