The Bible was used in court when a person took the oath to tell the truth, the whole truth. It made the person accountable under God, the supreme judge.
The Jury were made up of people who knew either the defendant or the accused. The reasoning behind it was that they knew the character of the people involved in the trial and that would help them to come to a just decision.
The Judge offered his advice in accordance with the law which guided the jury in coming to their verdict.
The system has changed. Just as in did in the latter days of Samuel’s life. 1 Samuel 8: 4 - 20
Role of a Judge
In the Bible when Joshua died, a great number of the people of Israel turned away from the law and sought other gods so the Lord raised up Judges.
“Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the power of those who plundered them.
Hebrew Judge – leadership in government as well as in legal cases. It was Gods theocratic government, were God was sovereign over judges.(Eyre & Spottiswoode Revised Standard Version notes page 402)
Theocratic – constitution of a state in which the Almighty is regarded as the sole sovereign and the laws of the realm as divine commands rather than human ordinances – the priesthood necessarily becoming officers of an invisible ruler. (Chambers Dictionary)
Judge Deborah
We have an example in Deborah, prophetess, who was judge over Israel. The people came to her to judge their case. Also as the appointed leader she was used by God to lead them to victory over their enemies. Judges 4: 4 - 10
God was sovereign over judges
Samuel was a judge as well as a being a prophet and priest. In his old age he decided to install his sons as judges but the people didn’t want them, they were seen as those who perverted Justice.
At an elders meeting they asked Samuel if they could have a king.
Embracing change
It was difficult for Samuel to embrace change he felt rejected, but God consoled him by pointing out that it was himself, their King, they were rejecting.
When change comes our first reaction is to come against it, but as we let go or let our heart felt worries be known, we can move on from that place and seek the Lord’s direction through prayer.
Samuel discussed it first with God and then put forward Godly reasons why they should retain God as their King and the judges.
God was their King.
Turning away from the Judges meant that Israel was turning their back on God as their King.
The nation of Israel was established under Moses and God was their king. He defended them against their enemies: God brought them out from slavery in Egypt. The lambs blood brushed on to the doorposts and lintels of their homes saved them from the death of the first born man and beast as the angel of death passed over their homes in Egypt. Moses lifted the rod and stretched out his hand God parted the Red Sea, so they were able to cross over on dry ground safely.
God provided for their needs: When Moses struck the rock with the rod; water flowed out from it. He gave them bread to eat, the Manna found on the ground every morning for six days and he gave them quail for fresh meat.
Making a man their King
Samuel warned them that they would be subject to authoritarian rule: they would have to enlist in the king’s army. Become his servants in his house, in the fields and make weapons of war. He would take ownership of their servants, orchards and vineyards and give them to his friends. Also he would take a tenth of their grain, grapes, flocks and they would become his slaves.
But the people insisted they wanted a king like the other nations, a man who would go before them and fight their battles.
Samuel spoke to God in prayer about their request for a man to be made their King. The Lord’s response was that they could have a king. The first King was Saul and the second was David the shepherd.
The Hebrew prophets longed to see the kingdom of God fill the whole earth, where God would cleanse the world of all wickedness and sin, hatred, bitterness, revenge ad wars. Where human beings would know God and have the nature of God.
Jesus the King of Kings. John 18: 33 - 37
Approximately a thousand years later Herod was King of the Jews when Jesus was born.
The wise men asked King Herod “Where is he who is born King of the Jews.”
Jesus was born a King, the King of the Jews.
A King has a kingdom
Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus’ response, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
Jesus gives us insight as to where he came from.
Jesus prayed from his position of the second person of the Trinity, (Son of God) from where he had come from before the foundation of the world.
“I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, glorify thou me in thine own presence with the glory which I had with thee, Father before the world was made.” John 17: 4, 5.
Jesus spoke of his Father’s kingdom and implied that he had been sent from that kingdom to complete a work for God.
Jesus came to the earth to fulfil God’s plan of reconciliation in uniting all things in heaven and on the earth, through his death, resurrection and ascension.
Jesus is the King of the Jews the same King, God himself, who in Samuael's day the Jews had rejected.
God sent his Son Jesus to be the King over the Jewish nation.
Nathan’s prophecy to King David from David’s descendant God would establish his eternal throne and kingdom. 2 Samuel 7: 16
At Pentecost Peter was standing with the eleven disciples and he confirmed that Jesus is the Christ through the prophecy given by Nathan to King David. He said, “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ. . . . Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2: 29, 36
Jesus is the King of the Jews and also the King of Kings, as he is King over the Gentiles
God has revealed himself through his Son Jesus that he is sovereign over all the earth. There is no other name, by which we can be saved and through Jesus' name we come to know God in a personal way.
Jesus is our King
When we accept Jesus as our Saviour we are born into the kingdom of God and Jesus is the king of the kingdom.
These three scriptures below are promises from Jesus that are for us today to receive through faith.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16
“If a person loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 23
Jesus said, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, so they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou has sent me.” John 17: 20
The Spirit of God bears witness to the life of Christ dwelling within us.
As we are under the authority of the King we are equipped to witness about Jesus and the kingdom. This scripture in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is truly amazing as we are entitled to its fulfilment in our lives today.
“Even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.”
So when we accept Jesus as our Saviour we are born into the kingdom of God.
My uncle John immigrated to America he had dual citizenship of America and the UK. We have received a Passport into the Kingdom of God we are citizens of world and also the Kingdom of God. In the world we are ambassadors for Christ.
In John’s gospel Chapter 17: 11, 15 In his prayer Jesus asked God to protect and defend his disciples. Jesus'prayer also for Christians today.
Marie Monsen found out that her attackers saw the Lord’s army.
“A Norwegian missionary, Marie Monsen, in China in the early 20th century, testified to the intervention of angels when Christians were in great danger. They had taken refuge in the mission compound only to be surrounded by looting soldiers and they were astonished to find that they were left in peace. A few days later the hostile men explained that they were ready to break the flimsy wall when they noticed tall soldiers with shining faces on a high roof in the compound. Marie Monsen wrote, “The heathen saw them, it was a testimony to them, but they were invisible to us.”
“A Barrel of Fun” by J John &Mark Stibbe.Monach Books.
The King’s provision for our needs
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Ephesians 1: 3,4. 2: 3 – 7
We are loved and doted upon by our heavenly Father with an abundance of blessings, I do most of my shopping at Tesco's I receive money vouchers from their points system. It would be foolish if I didn’t cash them in.
When we ask the Lord in prayer we will freely receive, seek and we will find, knock and the door will be opened for us to receive. It is also as we walk with the Lord that the heavenly blessings are given to us to witness our faith in Jesus.
A Famous true story
“Things looked bleak for the children of George Muller’s orphanage at Ashley Down in England. It was time for breakfast and there was no food.
A small girl who’s father was a close friend of Muller was visiting the home. Muller took her hand and said, “Come and see what our Father will do.”
In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs. Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but there was no money in the home’s account. Muller prayed,” Dear Father, we thank thee for what thou art going to give us to eat.”
Immediately, they heard a knock at the door. When they opened it, there stood the local baker.
“Mr Muller,” he said, “I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt that you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at two o’clock and baked fresh bread. Here it is.”
Muller thanked him and gave praise to God. Soon, a second knock was heard. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He said he would like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart to repair it.”
Taken from the book “A Bundle of Laughs” by J John &Mark Stibbe.Monarch Books.
Jesus the King of KingsThrough this study I’ve made that connection with the God and King of the Old Testament with my faith in Jesus the King, the same sovereign king that Samuel knew.
God is sovereign over the Jewish people, defending and providing for their needs. The same God is sovereign over his church with lots more blessings than those given to Israel, because we are already citizens of his heavenly kingdom.
