Mention of a King Deuteronomy 17

Deuteronomy 17:14 "When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me like as all the nations that are about me;

v15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother.

This passage looks ahead to I Samuel 8 where the prophet Samuel is instructed to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. You will find if you go over there that the Lord allowed the king to be anointed king over Israel reluctantly. Here the Lord knows that Israel will want a king and so sets down standards for them to follow. It will exciting when we get fully into that study.

One stipulation for the king was that he was to have a copy of the law with him and was to read it diligently so he could rule properly and in accordance with God's will. v18

He was not suppose to multiply wives unto himself. v17

He was not to lift himself up above his brethren by increasing his wealth. v17, v16

Then the warning that if he was to prolong his days as ruler he was to obey God.

The first part of the chapter starts in v1 with the condition of sacrifices i.e. they were to be without blemish. V2-7 is a stern warning against idolaters. After, their idolatry was confirmed by witnesses they were to be stoned but the witnesses were to cast the first stones. Discussed further in the next chapter.

v8-13 discusses the daily issues that are brought before the priest and judges. If a matter was brought before these men because it could not be decided locally and a decision was given, there was no recourse but to follow the decision of the priest or judge. To disobey meant death. It was a matter of respect for authority.

v13 "And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously."

We are half way through Deuteronomy. Moses' instructions are firm with the people. They are not to wobble on the axle as the old folks use to say. If the rules seem tough, remember that Moses called Israel a stiff necked people and rebellious since the day he knew them. Remember also the complaining and the idol of gold. Moses knows these people as does the Lord and a firm hand was the only way to deal with them.

Psalms 72 "Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness." v1-3