Picture this with me, if you will..
It is the final days of a tiresome – and often perilous – 40-year journey. The children of Israel have traversed the length and breadth of the vast, dreadful desert and are now somewhere on the plains of Moab, ready to enter the Promised Land.
Before them stands Moses, regally attired, ready to give them an important address. He knows that he is approaching the final days of his life and that he will by no means enter the land of promise. On account of an unfortunate incident at a certain rock, you see.
So, he gives a speech right there at the entrance to the land of milk and honey.
He speaks passionately about the Lord’s faithfulness to the children of Israel; reminds them of how God has been with them until that very moment. He reviews God’s laws, including the Ten Commandments and instructs them on how they are to worship the Lord their God, once they possess the land of milk and honey.
Forty years is a long time, brethren, and Moses makes the most of this moment, reminding the people of who they are and where they have been. Quite unexpectedly, however, Moses also touches on another matter; one that will only happen at least three hundred and fifty years later with the coronation of Saul, their first king. And he says:
“When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it and say; ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me…’ ”
By divine revelation, no doubt, Moses already knows that a time will soon come when the children of Israel will no longer be satisfied with God as their king; that they will demand a monarch at that time, a sovereign leader, to rule over them. And so, he continues:
“When you select a king..” he commands, “you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses…”
“He shall not multiply horses for himself… neither shall he multiply wives…”
“Nor greatly multiply silver and gold for himself…”
“When he sits on the throne of his kingdom… he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book… from the one before the priests, the Levites…”
“And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life…”
“… that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes…”
“… that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren…”
“… that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right hand or to the left…”
“… and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”
This is how a virtuous and worthy leader must conduct himself, Moses tells the people at this most crucial assembly. Moses does not know it, but in generations to come, precious few of his future countrymen will witness the kind of leader he envisions, for there will arise only a handful of good kings – strong, righteous, honorable men of worthy character. Sadly, the vast majority of Moses’ kinsmen will live their lives under a host of wicked and corrupt rulers.
But it is through the few virtuous kings that the Lord will demonstrate, most powerfully, His absolute faithfulness to this nation.
Those who will live during the reign of King David – a man who will love and honor God all the days of his life – will see the Lord strengthen their king and empower him to establish their kingdom from the border of Egypt, all the way to the mighty Euphrates in the north.
Those who will have wise King Solomon as their king will enjoy peace and prosperity like never before. Gold, silver and wealth, in abundance, will be their portion, as will the admiration and respect of the surrounding nations.
And during the time of King Jehoshaphat, a man of great faith and character, the people will behold the fear of the Lord fall on the neighboring nations, such that none will dare make war against the kingdom. And those who do will be forced to contend with the Lord Himself.
And a most righteous King Josiah will almost forcibly return the people to the worship of the one true God and give them a final chance to repent before the Lord’s dreadful judgment falls upon them.
These, and a few other kings – men who will do what is right in the eyes of the Lord – will shepherd the kingdom through her most prosperous, peaceful and successful years.
But by the same token, those who will fall short of Moses’ stipulations will turn out to be wicked, dishonest kings – men who will lead their people straight into the wrath of the Living God. For it is during their reigns that the people will descend deeper and deeper into corruption, immorality, witchcraft, idolatry and all forms of detestable behavior. And so, in the final years of the kingdom, the Lord will rebuke them thus, as they attempt to enter His house to pray:
“Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name…?”
“Therefore,” He will declare, “… My anger and My fury will be poured out… on man and on beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground. And it will burn and not be quenched.”
“I will destroy…” He will eventually warn, “with the sword, famine and plague.”
And thus, dear reader, scarcity, drought, famine, debilitating wars, dishonor and eventual subjugation by foreign nations will be their portion.
Allow me therefore to paraphrase in today’s parlance, the prophet Moses’ forewarning concerning your choice of leader.
When you elect a leader, dear reader:
You shall elect one whom the Lord your God has chosen…
He shall not multiply for himself property, houses, land or wives… nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold…
And when he sits on the throne of his nation, he shall keep for himself a copy of the Word of God, and the law of the land…
And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life…
So that he may learn to fear the Lord, and to keep His commandments…
And his heart may not be filled with pride…
And he may not turn aside from the Lord’s commandments – and the law of the land – to the right hand or to the left…
Then, he will establish himself as a worthy leader of the nation… and he and his children will live well among the people.
Pray therefore, that the Lord will raise good men and women to lead our nation. And then, when He does – because He will – do take a step further and lend them your support, when they offer themselves for election to public office.
Commit them to the Lord in prayer. Volunteer to help. Join their election campaigns; assist them craft powerful, effective election strategies. Give generously of your time and substance. Enable them raise the finances and resources they need. Do whatever it takes to ensure that they get into public office. And then, hold them up to the highest standards when they do.
Stand for election yourself even, if you have what it takes.
In short, my fellow countrymen, get personally involved in the election and accountability of your political leaders, during these turbulent and uncertain times.
Otherwise, the consequences will be, well, tragic.
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Author’s note:
Moses’ final address to the children of Israel is recorded in the biblical book of Deuteronomy. Chapter 17, verses 14–20 – quoted here almost verbatim – provide valuable guidelines for the selection of godly leaders.
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