Human kings are to be respected. Israel demanded and received a king from God but the failure of kings after David led to the expectation of a coming great king in sucession to David.
Human kingship
Human kingship is to be respected as ordained by God
Romans 13:1–7 See also 1 Timothy 2:1–2; 1 Peter 2:13, 1 Peter 2:17
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Allegiance to God is greater than allegiance to human kings
Daniel 2:47; Acts 5:29; Hebrews 11:23, Hebrews 11:27
Kingship in Israel
Israel is ruled by God and his appointed leader
Judges 8:22–23, Judges 19:1, Judges 21:25; 1 Samuel 7:15–17, 1 Samuel 12:12
Israel demands and receives a king from God
1 Samuel 8:4–9 See also Deuteronomy 17:14–20; 1 Samuel 8:19–22, 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 10:17–19, 1 Samuel 10:24, 1 Samuel 11:14–15, 1 Samuel 12:12–15 The demand for a king is seen as a rejection of God's rule but at the same time the king is seen as a gracious gift from God; Hosea 13:10–11
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
David is Israel's greatest king
1 Chronicles 29:26–28 parallel 1 Kings 2:10–12Psalm 78:70–72 See also 1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 5:3–5 parallel 1 Chronicles 11:3; 2 Samuel 8:1–14 parallel 1 Chronicles 18:1–13; 1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 11:6, 1 Kings 11:38; 2 Kings 14:3; Psalm 18:50
David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years — seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. He died at a ripe old age, full of years, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon reigned in his place.
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance. So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.
God's covenant with David
2 Samuel 7:8–16 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:7–14 See also 1 Kings 9:4–5 parallel 2 Chronicles 7:17–18; Psalm 132:11–12
The failure of the kingship after David leads to the expectation of a future king like David
Jeremiah 33:15 See also Isaiah 9:6–7, Isaiah 11:1–5, Isaiah 16:5; Jeremiah 23:5–6, Jeremiah 30:8–9; Ezekiel 34:23–24, Ezekiel 37:24–25; Amos 9:11; Micah 5:2–5; Mark 11:10
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Royal Psalms
These Psalms, although used for the king of the day, share the expectation of a greater future king. The NT regards them as fulfilled in Jesus Christ: Psalm 2:6–9, Psalm 45:1, Psalm 72:1, Psalm 110:1, Psalm 132:11
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.