No King in Israel

Today’s reading is Psalm 47.

The conquest was a powerful time in Israel’s history. They seemed to have near universal victory. They were nigh unstoppable. However, as we read Joshua, there is an underlying hint that all is not as it should be. Then we get to Judges and discover there is a flip side. God was working through the nation to accomplish His purpose and His promises. Yet, the nation itself was not actually keeping up its end of the bargain. Therefore, God had to bring about discipline. We see that cycle in Judges played out repeatedly as Israel seems to get worse and worse and worse each cycle Four times in Judges, the author records “there was no king in Israel” (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). Two of those times, the text goes on to say everyone was doing what was “right in his own eyes.” For those who know Israel’s history, this seems to be a comment on the geopolitical situation in Israel. God didn’t bring in a king until the people asked for it in 1 Samuel. Then we have Saul, David, Solomon and so on. However, in Judges, there was no king. There was no single ruler. There was only a network of judges.

However, look again at Psalm 47. The statement “there was no king in Israel” was not a geopolitical statement. It was a theological statement. Yahweh is King over the whole earth. If anyone was supposed to realize that, Israel was. But they didn’t. They were doing what was right in their own eyes instead of what was right in God’s eyes (see Exodus 15:26). God was their king, but they didn’t recognize Him as such. Therefore, the nations began to subdue Israel.

May we learn from the conquest, the judges, and the Psalms. There is one King. He is King whether we recognize Him as such or not. May we always do what is right in His eyes, not our own. If we don’t, we are destined for discipline and judgment. If we do, we will be on the winning side in the end.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 47.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the psalm and the written devo above?
2. What authority does a king have in the lives of his subjects?
3. Do you think the above explains why few people actually want a king?
4. What does it mean then for God to be our King?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?