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; 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.
And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes, to do them: (Deut. 17:14-15, 18-19)
God told Israel that when they chose to step away from a theocracy and set a king over them as the other nations, they were to anoint the man He chose, an Israelite, and not a stranger. The king was not to have multiple wives which would lead him away from God or entangle him in political alliances. Nor was he to increase his army at the expense of the people. He was to have his own copy of the Word of God that he might read it, fear the LORD God, and obey all the statutes and commandments God had given unto Israel.
God knows the hearts of all men, and knew that Israel would want a king just like all the other nations had. He would later tell them that doing so was a rejection of Him as King, but he allowed it, providing they followed His command to anoint the king which God had selected. The king himself was commanded to have one wife, for multiple wives would lead to trouble at home and politically. The horses of his army were not to be increased by taxation which would be an undue burden upon the people instead of trusting God to defeat their enemies. Most of all, the king was to be obedient to read and heed the Word of God, having his own copy to learn from and follow all the commandments which the Lord God gave to Israel. God would prosper the king who listened and obeyed Him.
Regardless of our status in society or in church, Christians are to heed the Word of God, rightly divided and studied, and obey it as doers of the Word and not hearers only. We may select earthly leaders but as pilgrims in this world and citizens of the Kingdom we ultimately follow our Lord even as we sojourn here in but not of this world. We submit ourselves to every lawful order of those over us in this life, even as we surrender ourselves daily to our Lord and bear our cross, crucifying the works of the flesh. We pray for our leaders, both political and in the church, that they may serve the people justly, be merciful in their leadership, and fear God. For the lost, we pray and witness that they may repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and receive His gift of Salvation. Jesus is our King and calls all who will come unto Himself to be born again by faith through grace until the final Day when He returns to rule and reign on this earth.
God has sent those who are His and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
God knows the hearts of all men, and knew that Israel would want a king just like all the other nations had. He would later tell them that doing so was a rejection of Him as King, but he allowed it, providing they followed His command to anoint the king which God had selected. The king himself was commanded to have one wife, for multiple wives would lead to trouble at home and politically. The horses of his army were not to be increased by taxation which would be an undue burden upon the people instead of trusting God to defeat their enemies. Most of all, the king was to be obedient to read and heed the Word of God, having his own copy to learn from and follow all the commandments which the Lord God gave to Israel. God would prosper the king who listened and obeyed Him.
Regardless of our status in society or in church, Christians are to heed the Word of God, rightly divided and studied, and obey it as doers of the Word and not hearers only. We may select earthly leaders but as pilgrims in this world and citizens of the Kingdom we ultimately follow our Lord even as we sojourn here in but not of this world. We submit ourselves to every lawful order of those over us in this life, even as we surrender ourselves daily to our Lord and bear our cross, crucifying the works of the flesh. We pray for our leaders, both political and in the church, that they may serve the people justly, be merciful in their leadership, and fear God. For the lost, we pray and witness that they may repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and receive His gift of Salvation. Jesus is our King and calls all who will come unto Himself to be born again by faith through grace until the final Day when He returns to rule and reign on this earth.
God has sent those who are His and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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