The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 295

Vers. 14-20.-Kings subject to the King of kings. In this paragraph we have directions to be attended to in case Israel should, in the course of time, desire a king. As things were, the Lord God was their King; and it would be a sinful discontent with the Divine arrangements if they wished any change in that respect in their national constitution. It would show an envious desire to be like unto the nations round about, and a craving after the pomp and display of the heathen world. Still, if such a wish should spring up, they are not to be violently coerced into the maintenance of the theocracy. They are to have their way. A dangerous permission this, but maybe it is a ncce,sary one, to educate the people out of their perversity. 'l'be ·permission, however, is not left without its restrictions. Here are rules for the people, and also rules for their king whenever they should have one. The people are told that they must defer to the will of the Lord their God as to who should be their king; and also that they might not set one over them of an alien nation (ver. 15). And as for the king who should be chosen, for him there are four prohibitions and four commands. The prohibitions arc these: (1) the king is not to take them back to Egypt; (2) nor to multiply cavalry; (3) nor to amass wealth; (4) nor to multiply wives to himself. The commands are these: (1) The Law of God is to be written, (2) retained, (3) read, (4) obeyed by him; and only as this is the case is there any promise of the stability of his throne. (For a grand commentary on all this, read 1 Sam. xii.) The history of the Hebrew nation continuously discloses the folly and danger of people and kings departing from the Law of God. Hence we have a fine homiletic theme for the preacher, wben called on to preach a sermon on national affairs. 1 It is this: Obedience to tl,e Law of God the only stability of th?·ones. I. IT IS BY RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT 'J'HRONEB ARE FIRM. Righteousness-according to the root of the word-is acting according to relation. Such is the significance of 611d1, It is acting in harmony with the relations between man and man, and between man and God. When a sceptre is swayed rightly, the throne is established. 1. God bas created rnan with power to perceive a distinction between right and wrong, and with a. faculty which approves one and condemns the other. 2. When the right is manifestly <lone, the people are content. 3. Content of the people gives cohesion to the nation and support to the throne. 4. God's blessing is promised to the rigbttous. The signs of tLat blessing are seen in continuance and prosperity. II. THE OJ\'LY AUTHORITATIVE EXPOSITION OF RIGHT FOR THE WORLD IS IN THE WRITTEN LAW OF Goo. (See preceding Homily, Div. II.) Dr. Matthew Arnold speaks of the force pervading the Old Testament as" a power, not ourselves, that makes for righteous- uess." This is the peculiarity of Hebrew literature. Their kings are always estimated according to whether they di<I right " in the sight of the Lord." 1 Dr. J&.Illeo0n's 'Commentary' bas several helpful illustrative references. The student way 111.o, with advantage, consult Wine's' Commentaries on the La.ws of Moses.' ~II. XVII. 1-20.] THE IlOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 2'.ll