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Scripture Reading
Introduction
We’re working through the major covenants of Scripture.
Keep in mind, there are numerous other covenants mentioned - covenants of various kinds.
The purpose of this study is not to look at each covenant.
Rather, we are looking at the major covenants that are entered into between God and His people, particularly as they relate to the overall salvation plan of God through Scripture.
This evening, we consider the Davidic Covenant.
This is a Covenant that was entered into by God with His servant David.
If I say that to you, when I refer to David, what is the first thing that comes into your mind?
David was a King!!
The Covenant that God enters into has to do with Kingship…
The promise that God will enter into with David relates to a ruler over God’s people, and promise of a ruler that would rule God’s people in accordance with His perfect and righteous ways and decrees.
As we come to this covenant, keep in mind all that has been discussed in terms of covenants thus far, and what God has been doing.
Particularly, keep in mind the sinful hearts of man, the rebellion by man against God, and God’s mercy in choosing for himself those that would walk in obedience to Him.
As we come to this Davidic Covenant, what I want to do is set the context of the covenant that was entered into.
1.
Israel Led to Victory (Joshua)
We have already briefly touched on the fact that Israel was led out of slavery in Egypt.
This happened according to God’s grace and mercy, but through His servant Moses.
In other words, leadership was a good thing.
To have someone that was tasked with leading the people of God was something that was good and fitting, and Israel would have been nowhere without it.
After Moses had led Israel to Sinai, and then in the wilderness, Joshua was raised up by God to lead Israel to enter into the promised land.
Once again, I simply mention this to point out the fact that God had prepared and equipped leaders to take charge over the nation Israel, and to lead them in a season as He carried out His purposes.
Both Moses and Joshua were humble leaders that were devoted to the service of the Lord.
What is important to note from this is that God was leading his people.
God had promised great promises to His people.
He had been with His people through the wilderness wanderings.
He had provided leadership for His people through his servants Moses, Aaron and Joshua.
God was with His people.
We then move into the book of Judges.
2. Israel with No King (Judges)
Joshua, having successfully led Israel to take at least some of the promised land captive, died...
Already we find that a generation grows up that does not know the Lord and does not seek the Lord.
We recall something of this type happening previously in the Scriptures, where people turned against God in their sin.
This, however, was the covenant people of God.
They should surely not have been turning away.
And yet, at least to some extent they were.
But we must keep in mind that the covenant that God entered into with Abraham was a covenant that God promised to keep.
God would certainly keep His covenants.
He would show mercy and grace… although not always in the ways that were anticipated.
A wonderful summary is given for us in Judges 2, which really serves as the description of the cycle that would follow
One further point that is important to note from the book of Judges is the phrase that arises through the latter part of the book… It is the phrase that in fact closes off the book of Judges…
Now, that is an inetesting statement.
The force of this statement, and the significance of it is in the fact that God was the one that raised up judges to deliver the Israelites in their time of need.
This was His work.
It was by His grace.
And he delivered His people out of captivity and bondage to the surrounding nations through these various judges.
The significance of this (tied in with what we considered about Moses and Joshua) was that there was no real need for a King to lead Israel if God was providing sufficient leadership in order to deliver them.
So long as God was their God, and so long as He was over them, and leading them, they had all they needed.
He would provided the human means to carry out His divine purpose.
But this leads us to consider…
3. Israel Dissatisfied (1 Samuel)
When we get to 1 Samuel in the Scriptures, we find that Israel was in a very bad place in terms of the worship of God.
There is a priest that is functioning, and his name is Eli.
But Eli is failing to discipline his sons appropriately, despite the fact that they were dishonouring God.
But God raised up a man by the name of Samuel.
He was a prophet, again, someone that was raised up by God in order to lead the nation Israel.
But very soon, we find that the Israelites were not satisifed with this.
And so, these people bring a request to Samuel…
Now, we need to see some important facts about this request for a king.
Firstly, we see that the people of Israel were not satisifed with God’s appointed means of leading His people.
They were not content with God to rule through His chosen servants.
They wanted a king.
But we need to see that they were not merely asking for a king.
They were asking for a king likea ll the other nations.
They had begun to compare themselves to the nations that surrounded them, and failed to realise that their leadership under God was in fact far better for them in many ways.
We find that Samuel was infact angered by this request.
But God’s response is in verses 7-8 of that passage....
Later on we will read that Samuel refers to this rejection of him and God as a grievous wickedness....
Now, what are we to make of this?
We must recognise that a king to rule over them was not necessarily an evil thing.
In fact, such a king / kings had been prophesied about from long before.
Also, when Jacob was blessing his sons, we read...
Certainly, there was a prophetic proclamation by God that kings would come, even as a part of the blessing that was given to Abraham.
This should not be seen as merely prophetic of something that would be evil.
Rather, it was prophetic of that which would occus by the blessing of God.
Later on, in the law of Moses, we find that there were even laws given concerning Kings that may rule over God’s people - this is in the book of Deuteronomy, written long before the people were now asking for a King.
What is clear from this is that a king to rule over Israel was not only included as part of the blessings given to Abraham, and the covenant promises made to Him, but was also prophetic in terms of what would unfold.
One commentator writes this concerning the request of Israel for a King at this time…
The problem was not, then, in wanting a king.
It was in wanting one like the nations.
Kingship in Canaan at this time was centralized, was absolute, and contained the potential abuse of power.
In addition, there was a danger that through alliances, compacts, and treaties, the Israelites would depend on others and not on the Lord.
Moreover, since kings would come to the throne by dynasty and not by direct intervention from the Lord, God’s direct rule of the people could be thwarted.
The big problem that Israel would faced (and in fact, which they were warned about) was that the kings that would rule would potentially be tyrannical.
They would be demanding in terms of taking from the people of Israel.
In fact… this would get so bad in terms of the poor leadership through the King, that they would cry out.
So what was the true problem in Israel asking for this King?
The emphasis in 1 Samuel 8 is on Israel’s desire to be like the other nations.
This is most clear in
Israel says they will be like the nations in that their king may “judge” them and “fight” their battles.
Israel wanted a king to judge them, despite the fact that Yahweh was their judge.
And Israel wanted a king to fight their battles, despite the fact that Yahweh fought their battles for them.
Israel already had a true Judge and King in Yahweh.
Israel had the wrong motives in asking for a king.
They also had the wrong timing in asking for a king.
Although a king had been promised, this was not the time for them to be asking for a king.
God was still ruling and reigning.
He was still fighting their battles.
He was the one that ought to have been judging them through His chosen servants.
But they were in essence rejecting this form of leadership that God had instituted.
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