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Israel’s Demand for a King: Lessons in Faith and Folly

Israel’s Demand for a King: Lessons in Faith and Folly

Last updated on: November 7, 2024 at 4:24 pm by William T. Orr, Jr.

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Israel’s Demand for a King: Lessons in Faith and Folly 2024-11-07T16:24:33-05:00 William T. Orr, Jr.

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As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. (Proverbs 26:11 KJV)

A dog returns to its vomit Gemini generated image by William T. Orr, Jr.

In ancient times, the people of YHWH turned away from Israel’s God.

The Bible tells us that in the ancient times, long before the Bible itself was written, the people of YHWH were led by people known as judges. These judges settled disputes, led military campaigns when necessary and provided religious counsel to the people.

Israel asked for a king

The last of these judges (and the first of the prophets) was Samuel. Samuel was seen as a righteous judge. When he grew old, he appointed his two sons to succeed him. Samuel’s sons turned away from YHWH and from the people.

This caused discord and hardship for the people so they petitioned Samuel to give them a king like other nations have.

Saul admonished them that YHWH was their king and that an earthly king would lead them away from YHWH.

The people, however, persisted.

Saul prayed to YHWH and he returned to the people telling them that they had turned from YHWH in their demand for a king. YHWH would give them a king but the king would cause great hardship for the people.

Samuel appointed Saul as Israel’s first king.

Saul’s reign was a disaster. He sacrificed, usurping the office of priests. He went into battle without consulting YHWH’s prophet. His reign was such that YHWH removed him as king and replaced him with David.

The people had made a wrong choice and they had paid a price for their folly.

Did the people learn from their mistakes?

The books of the Hebrew Bible tell story after story showing that every time the people made a bad choice, turning from YHWH, they meet with disaster. Neighboring kingdoms attack them when they stray.

YHWH uses the kingdoms around Israel to punish Israel when the people are not obedient.

Time after time after time, the people make the wrong choice and are punished by the nations surrounding them.

Israel met its end.

Time and time again, the people of Israel and its kings persisted in worshiping idols, and after a series of warnings that should have caused a change in behavior, YHWH caused the Assyrian Empire to destroy the northern Kingdom of Israel, sending its people into exile. Those who escaped, fled in to the southern Kingdom of Judah.

There were many opportunities for the people and the kings of Israel to return to YHWH and to renounce their sin. Selfishness and greed led them to destruction.

A dog returns to its vomit Gemini generated image by William T. Orr, Jr.

Did the people of Judah learn from Israel’s mistakes?

Following the fall of Israel in 722 BCE, the Kingdom of Judah had nine kings. All but two of these kings were seen as evil in the eyes of YHWH.

Two kings, Hezekiah nd Josiah were religious reformers. They tried to purify, centralize and dogmatize the worship of YHWH only in the Jerusalem temple. Of course, this reform was political as well as religious.

As history would predict, he people of Judah turned from YHWH as did its kings.

In 586 BCE, YHWH caused the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II to attack Jerusalem, burning the city and destroying the temple.

Nebuchadnezzar exiled the literate population and the skilled artisans to Babylon. Others remained or fled to Egypt.

The people of Judah turned from YHWH and were punished for their lack of faith.

What about modern times?

In the mid-20th century, a king arose among the Teutonic people of Europe. This king was lifted up by the people, who were concerned that what they saw as their purity was a people was being threatened by foreigners.

The people lauded their king and his rise caused millions of people to die.

The king was evil and the people were evil in their tolerance and support of him and his evil deeds.

A Great war was fought throughout the world.

When the war ended, between 50 million and 85 million people had been killed.

The people ignored YHWH’s laws and the world was punished.

On the other side of the world:

During the 17th and 18th centuries, many groups of people from many countries in Europe believed that they were being persecuted and otherwise mistreated by the people in power.

Many groups left Europe, seeking greater opportunity and freedom in North America.

They formed nations like Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The United States was founded on principles of freedom and individual rights.

Sadly, in its need to expand, the United States found it necessary to displace or kill the indigenous inhabitants or to drive them off their land.

In addition, these new Americans found a way to acquire cheap labor for their farms.

Steal people from Africa and keep them captive to do the work they did not want to do.

A dog returns to its vomit Gemini generated image by William T. Orr, Jr.

In spite of their claimed religious faith, the people of the U.S. built their shining nation on stolen land on the backs of enslaved people.

Even in the face of this great sin, the people thrived, becoming the example of nationhood.

And then, in 2024, they demanded a king…

General Christian

Politics and Religion

About William T. Orr, Jr.

William T. Orr, Jr. is a retired educator, most recently the principal of a high school named in the Top 10 in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Orr has a B.A. in English Language and Literature, a M.Ed. in Education Administration and Supervision, and an Ed.D. in Education leadership. He’s also completed Postdoctoral study at Yale Divinity School and Dallas Theological Seminary. You can read more about the author here.

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