The King
Everyone loves a benevolent king; someone who rules over the people, providing protection and abundance, is cherished. Americans are fascinated by the royalty of the United Kingdom. Fairly recently, the beloved Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom passed away. In May, millions of viewers will watch King Charles be crowned and take the throne. In addition to millions of viewers, millions of dollars will be spent on this special occasion.
Similarly, just as people look to the United Kingdom and their “royalty” today, the children of Israel looked to other nations and their kings. Israel saw that neighboring countries had a king (1 Samuel 8:5), so they wanted one, too. God gave them what they wanted, and this was only the beginning. The true king would deliver the people of Israel and the world.
King Saul
The day had finally come for Israel to have its first king. In 1 Samuel 9, readers are introduced to a young man from the land of Benjamin named Saul. In verse two of 1 Samuel 9, it says, “[...] There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he.” In addition to this, it says that “from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” Samuel, the final judge of Israel and a prophet appointed by God, had been sent to anoint Saul. Samuel later gathered all of Israel to proclaim Saul’s kingship. “And Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.’ The people then shouted, ‘Long live the king’” (1 Samuel 10:24). Saul was a very promising king and brave warrior regarded highly by the people. He went to war and won battles with Israel but then made a tragic mistake; he disobeyed the command of God (see I Samuel 13). The king had been ordered by Samuel to wait seven days with Israel before battle for Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice to God. Instead, he had become impatient and uneasy after the people scattered and the Philistines encamped nearby. Because of this, Saul decided to offer a sacrifice to God, which he had no authority to do. Samuel then arrived and informed Saul that his kingdom would not continue because he disobeyed God: “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD had commanded him to be prince over his people because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you” (1 Samuel 13:14). King Saul continued his disobedience to God and God told Samuel that he regretted making Saul king (1 Samuel 15:11a). However, the people of Israel would have a new king.
A New King
Following Saul, a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem named David was to become king. God instructed Samuel to go and anoint this new king secretly, without Saul’s notice. When Samuel arrived at the altar in Bethlehem to call the new king, he expected him to be a tall and strong man, but he is confused after David's older brothers walk in and are not God's selected king. Ironically, it turned out to be David, the youngest and the smallest. God told Samuel, “[...] Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b). Young David then went to join and served Saul after he was anointed. Not long after he had begun, the Philistines gathered their armies against the Israelites at Socah in Judah. A champion had arisen from their camps by the name of Goliath. He was a large man (likely around 9 feet tall) who taunted the Israelites and called on them to bring a man to fight him. David stepped forward and took on the champion while everyone else was afraid. The shepherd boy took down the Philistine with a sling and a stone to the head.
Sin Remains
Following this, David grew to be a great king and leader of Israel. His successes included conquering the Canaanite stronghold of Jerusalem and making it the kingdom's capital. King David also weakened the strong Philistine nation that was a continual threat to Israel and became an overlord of small neighboring nations around Israel. More importantly, even though he succeeded as king, he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” Sadly, though, he made mistakes and sinned against God. Second Samuel 11 records the terrible account of King David falling prey to the beauty of a woman named Bathsheba. It was springtime, and kings commonly went to battle; however, David sent his other men and stayed in Jerusalem. One afternoon, David decided to walk on his rooftop and beheld Bathsheba bathing. He sent messengers who inquired about the woman and, upon their return, informed him that she was married to one of his mightiest soldiers, Uriah. Even after he heard this, he sent messengers back to Bathsheba, having her come to his palace. He then committed the egregious sin of adultery. Later, David was told by Bathsheba that she had become pregnant. After hearing this, he ordered Uriah to be placed on the front lines of the battle which led to his death (2 Samuel 11:17). Later, King David asked God for forgiveness, recounted his wrongdoings in the Psalms, and repented. Though King David made mistakes during his rule, he was what Israel needed. God knew this, as David was a glimpse of what was to come.
The True King
Some 1,000 years later, a descendant of David was born in the same small town of Bethlehem as David. This was none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. After being born in a manger to his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, Jesus spent the rest of his childhood growing up in the rugged town of Nazareth. The last thing people would expect was for the Son of God to come from Nazareth. Since the time of David, the land of Israel had been taken under control by the infamous Roman Empire. The people had waited many years for the Messiah and imagined him as a strong military leader who would deliver them from the hand of Rome. However, this was not the case. After Jesus spent a few years preaching and performing miracles, he came to Jerusalem to fulfill His last days on earth. He did not come in on a tall horse with a sword, as a king would, but instead on a donkey (Luke 19:28-40). The people praised Jesus, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Jesus had come to bring salvation to the world and to proclaim good news to the poor (Luke 4:18). He lived a perfect, sinless life, even still tempted as we are (Hebrews 4:15). He was later delivered up and crucified for our sake.
Yes, there will be millions of people watching the new king being crowned. There will likely be millions of dollars poured into the ceremonial occasion. However, the true monarch, the king of the universe, was born 2,000 years ago. His birth was not a spectacle, as he was born in a manger. He came down to deliver His people and to bring salvation to all through living a perfect life and then overcoming death. Jesus was the perfect benevolent king… one who gave His life for all.
