Kingly Achievement

You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty.   Ezekiel 34:4

It is as if God were saying, “You kings have been given power; now what have you done with it?” The king’s role was to lead the people into battle and protect them from their enemies. He was also responsible for leading the people in right paths so that they would continue to enjoy the blessing of God.

The exile to Babylon did not happen because of the sins of one generation but because of the repeated pattern of sin over many generations. God was pointing out a consistent pattern of abuse through the entire history of the nation.

Before the first king was appointed, God warned the people that a king would conscript their sons into the army, take their daughters into the service of the palace, and raise their taxes until the people “beg[ged] for relief” (1 Samuel 8:18).

That is exactly what happened. Many kings were wicked, but even the best kings placed great burdens on the people. Solomon is remembered for all his achievements, but his abuses of power were considerable. He built the Temple, but much of it was done under forced labor, and the taxes he levied were almost intolerable.

The church is called to fulfill a purpose, and we need leadership to help us move in that direction. There must be administration, organization, and order in the church of God. Church leaders must protect the flock from false teaching and keep them from sin that could hinder God’s blessing on his people. And parents must protect their children from an evil world and lead them in paths of righteousness.

All God’s people are kings. God has “raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 2:6). In Christ you are positioned for victory over your enemies of sin, death, and hell, and you’re given the Spirit of God so that you have the ability to move in right paths.

For further reading, see 1 Samuel 8