THE KING AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART
THE KING AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
John 18:33; Genesis 14:18 - 20; Deuteronomy 33: 4; 2 Samuel 23:1 - 4
My intention is to present kingship as it is seen in Christ, and I believe it is brought before us in these four scriptures. I think it is necessary to present this subject, on account of the general trend towards lawlessness in the world, and also on account of the negligence of the saints with regard to the commandments of the Lord. The apostle Paul said that he was “legitimately subject to Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21), and that the proof of spirituality is seen in that we recognise the things that he wrote to the Corinthians as being “the Lord’s commandment”, 1 Corinthians 14:37. “If any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is the Lord’s commandment”.
In the passage which we have read in John, Pilate asks the Lord: “Thou art the king of the Jews?” Jesus answers with another question: “Dost thou say this of thyself, or have others said it to thee concerning me?” This answer is in keeping with the character of John’s gospel: “Dost thou say this of thyself?” Being developed spiritually, as the result of the work of God in us, we are able to form thoughts of Christ and to communicate them. Too often Christians repeat what others have said to them. It is true that we ought to learn from one another; but even in that case there is the result of the work of God in the believer. To quote an example, in chapter 9, the man born blind was “of age”, and was able to speak concerning himself; he could express himself by himself. It is of all importance that we should learn to speak by ourselves. You will find other examples of it in the gospel, such as the words of Philip to Nathanael, and what the Samaritan woman said to the men of the city.
Pilate had no personal knowledge of Christ; he possessed nothing himself. This is true of professors, and even, alas! of many believers. The work of God in us results in our being able to speak by ourselves. On the objective side, there is that which God presents to us to be believed; afterwards, there is the intuition which the work of God produces in us. It is by the Holy Spirit that we say, “Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 12:3); and it is by the Spirit that we cry, “Abba, Father”.
But I wish to speak of the King. Christ was born to be King: “I have been born for this”, He said. The magi enquired concerning Him who was born King of the Jews, “Where is the king of the Jews that has been born”, Matthew 2:2. Nimrod is the first king mentioned in Scripture, but he was not born king. It is said of him that he “began to be mighty on the earth”, Genesis 10:8. He acquired power: it is the principle that supports every human king, while Jesus was born King of the Jews. “I have been born for this, and for this I have come into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth”. He was born King, and He showed that He was King by exercising the power which was His. All who were enlightened and had right instincts according to God, saw the King. Nathanael said, “Thou art the king of Israel” (John 1:49); and later on, even a brigand by His side upon the cross, discerned the King. Those who have right spiritual instincts will not be deceived by the king who is to come; he will come in his own name, claiming to do great things. But Jesus came in His Father’s name; He came in meekness. “Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy king cometh to thee, meek”, Matthew 21:5. It is essentially important that Christians should have a right idea of the King who was born in order to bear witness to the truth. The magi had a true conception of Him they followed His star to the place where He was and they did Him homage. “Every one that is of the truth hears my voice”, He said. Pilate was outside of all that, and he asks: “What is truth?” Such is the question that unbelievers present. Christ Himself is the truth; so that, from John’s point of view, everything is expressed in His Person. He is the King; and the whole truth of the kingdom is manifested in Him.
In the Old Testament we have illustrations of what is presented in the New Testament. Kingship according to man is seen in Nimrod and in Saul. Nimrod made himself king; Saul was made king by the people. There are thus men who establish themselves kings, and others who are established kings by others.
In contrast with Nimrod, “a mighty hunter before Jehovah” (Genesis 10:9) we have Melchisedec, king of righteousness, king of Salem (that is to say, king of peace). Nimrod, a mighty hunter, had no scruple with regard to his neighbours; he was independent, a lawless man, using God’s creatures solely for his personal pleasure. He went out towards Asshur and built Nineveh. He continually advanced to extend his empire, having only his personal greatness in view. He is a type of the great warriors and conquerors who appeared after him; he is also a type of him who is yet to appear, who comes in his own name. But Melchisedec is “king of righteousness”; and being king of righteousness he is “king of peace”; then he is “priest of the Most High God”, “Possessor of heavens and earth”. Nimrod and all whom he represents must disappear; but Melchisedec remains; he is the king whom God has established. In Melchisedec we see the thought of God concerning the king. He brings out bread [p. 4] and wine; he represents the grace of Christ which meets the needs of our souls. The League of Nations would like to establish peace, but righteousness is necessary first; the rights of God and the rights of men must be recognised. David recognised the rights of all when he said to Araunah, “I will in any case buy them of thee at a price”, (2 Samuel 24:24) and he bought Ornan’s threshing-floor for the full price. That forms a striking contrast with Ahab and Jezebel who took possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jizreelite, after having killed its rightful owner.
The king according to flesh is presented to us in 1 Samuel 8:10 - 18. He gives nothing, but exacts this and that. Melchisedec gives; he brings out bread and wine; he encourages and refreshes. By such a king, men are helped; they are delivered from the power of Satan, protected and fed. They are secured for God; they glorify Him and worship Him. It is thus that having brought everything to pass for God, Christ delivers up the kingdom to God, that He may be all in all; 1 Corinthians 15:24 - 28.
In the first book of Samuel, we have first of all the desires of Hannah, and the answer to those desires in Samuel; in the second place we have the desires of the people, and the answer in Saul; in the third place, we have the desires of the heart of God, who brings in His King. God brings in His King according to His eternal thought. In the book of Ruth (which immediately precedes that of Samuel), we find the royal line, the genealogy of David, his ancestors, before he himself comes on the scene. So, in creating Adam God had Christ before Him. In the first book of Samuel, God is occupied with David, who is the man after His own heart, the king according to His counsels. At the outset, Samuel was not ready to discern the king: Samuel would have chosen Eliab, looking on the outward appearance; in that case, he was not at the height of divine thoughts, so that [p. 5] Jehovah reproved him. When David appeared, ruddy and of a lovely countenance, then Jehovah said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he”, (1 Samuel 16:12).
I pass now to chapter 33 of Deuteronomy. Moses “was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together”. Moses had commanded a law to Israel; it was not a law of irritation. Someone has said that the world is a mutual irritation society; but the law of God did not produce that effect. Never was there such a law commanded. The law commanded by Moses was “the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob”. It was based on love.”Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy understanding. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”. There is nothing there which could irritate. In Deuteronomy 6:5, where we find this quotation, the law is presented in its spiritual import; even a bird’s nest was not to be disturbed (see Deuteronomy 22:6,7). In chapter 11, it speaks of days of heaven on earth, “as the days of the heavens which are above the earth”; we enjoy them in so far as we are subject to our Moses — Christ — and understand the kingdom of God exercised by Him. Men speak of making the earth habitable, while the opposite is taking place. The law of Moses made provision for all; it was concerned even with a bird, as I have said. It was the “inheritance of the congregation of Jacob”. Those who understood the law and appreciated it regarded it as an inheritance.
The law-giver was “king in Jeshurun”. Jeshurun means “Uprightness”. Moses was king in the affections of the people of God; he was accepted as such by those who were upright in heart. If one had asked the people: What do you think of Moses? the answer would have been: Moses has given us such a law as there had never been, a law which has [p. 6] had no equal, and we love the law-giver; we love Moses. Nothing was passing: all was solidly established. When the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together, Moses was recognised as king: “he was king in Jeshurun”.
In Psalm 119, we see how the law was loved. If the law was so precious, what feelings of affection it must produce towards him through whom it was given, towards God who gave it! By the power of the Spirit, the law is fulfilled in us. “His commandments are not grievous”, 1 John 5:3.
In 2 Samuel 23, we have the description of the true king, the impression which David received of the king. “The ruler among men shall be just, ruling in the fear of God; and he shall be as the light of the morning, like the rising of the sun, a morning without clouds; when from the sunshine, after rain, the green grass springeth from the earth”. David himself did not answer to that. In Christ alone do we see perfectly David’s conception as to the king. He is the King after God’s own heart, and He will sit as Priest upon His throne; Zechariah 6:13.
May God lead us all to know Him thus, and bless His word to us!
Substance of a Reading with J.T. at St. Etienne, 1st May, 1926, morning.