The Right Kind of King

The Right Kind Of King

The nation of Israel was born from a promise to Abram to make of his seed a great nation (Genesis 12:2). Established at Mt. Sinai, Israel would have a troubled beginning drifting forty years through the wilderness before crossing the Jordan to take their place in Canaan. It would be many more years before the first king would sit upon a throne and rule the nation. Only three men would rule over a united kingdom for a period of 120 years: Saul son of Kish, David son of Jesse and finally Solomon son of David. After Solomon’s death the nation of Israel would plunge into a chaos of disharmony and wickedness ending finally in the total destruction of the northern tribes by the hand of the Assyrians and bondage of the southern tribes in Babylon.

Throughout the reigns of the kings who sat upon the throne of the northern kingdom of Israel not one man was righteous. Beginning with Jeroboam the Lord described the rule of the northern kings as evil.  “But you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back” (1 Kings 14:9). Nadab the son of Jeroboam “did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin” (1 Kings 15:26).

“But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up” (1 Kings 21:25). All of the kings of Israel were characterized by the words “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin” (2 Kings 15:24).

In contrast of the northern kings Judah would enjoy years of peace and prosperity when kings would rule who would follow in the way of God. Like their northern sister, Judah would have evil kings but men like Josiah would govern the nation who would do “what was right in the sight of the Lord, and [walk] in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:1-2). The prophet Ahijah had warned Jeroboam the judgment of the king would be whether he would “heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments” (1 Kings 11:38).

David Lanphear observed, “The kings of Judah and Israel are described as either good or evil. The Scriptures don’t tell us much about where they stood on issues like defense, foreign policy, education, the economy, or national debt. Generally, they are described as good or evil because of their allegiance to God or approval of idol worship or sacrificing their children to Moloch… Nations were judged as penitent or wicked based on their obedience to God.” The wise man reminds us that “wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:33-34).

The right kind of king was one who had a view of God as Creator (Genesis 1:1) and Judge (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Paul exhorted that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:2).