This week we look at the story of Israel wanting a king, just like everyone else. Remember Genesis 3 from last week: we want to decide for ourselves what is good and what is bad - a sort of “declaration of independence”.
- Deuteronomy 17:14–20 - Last week we saw how Israel was commissioned at Sinai to be a nation of priests. While they are still at Sinai, God predicts later that they will want a king. This passage provides God’s blueprint: a king under God’s law, humble, and dependent on His Word. It highlights the tension between a divine design for kingship and a human desire for power. How does this passage strike you, knowing what will happen? What do you think of the king needing to write out the Torah while the priests watch? Does the last line remind you of Psalm 1 from last week?
- Judges 2 Moses led Israel to the land. Joshua led the settling of the land. And now Judges tells the story of a series of tribal rulers. This chapter is an overview of the book, which documents the downward spiral of Israel where they become just as bad as the people they displaced. What emotion does reading this chapter bring up in you? Is it painful to read? Check out this overview video of Judges.
- Judges 17-21 Today, unusually, we excerpt a few verses: 17:6, 18:1, 19:1 and and the very last verse, 21:25. What at way to end a book! Why do you think the author keeps repeating that phrase? Why does the author want to tell this story of Israel’s self-destruction? (If you have the stomach for it, you may wish to read some of these are very difficult chapters and see just how far Israel fell into self-destruction). The last verse links us to the story of David, up next.
- 1 Samuel 8 Remember Deuteronomy 17 from earlier this week? How close is the Israelites request to what we read there? As you read this chapter, do you have the sense that things are going to go very wrong? It’s clear Samuel’s sons aren’t up for the job. Do you sympathize with the request? What do you think of Samuel’s approach?
- John 18:33–37 – This is the showdown between earthly authority and the kind of king God had in mind all along. Does it seem like two people are talking past each other? Do you get the sense that Pilate thinks Jesus is crazy, but harmless? So what kind of a King is Jesus? What is he king of? More on this to come.