c0mmuni(y, which pr0p up abuses, etc., may be submitted to, but cannot be justified. ""here, on the contrary, the law of a lnnd is in essential harmony with the principles of righteousness, obedience to it becomes a duty of religion. Ho who sets it nt nought strives with God not less than with man, is "as they which strive with the priest," and does" presumptuously" (cf. IIos. iv. 4).-J. 0, Yers. 14-20.-The ki'.11g in Israel. We have here- I. THE DESIRE OF A KING ANTICIPATED. (Ver. 14.) Moses anticipates that, when settled in the land, the people would desire a king, that they might be like other nati0ns. This was: 1. A desire spri11ging f1·om a wrong motive. (l) As involvinu n Jmy estimate of their privilege in being ruled directly by Jehovah. It was the glory :rn<l distinction of their nation that they bad God so nigh them, and were under his immediate care and sovereignty. But they could not rise to the sublimity of this t bought. They deemed it a grander thing to have a mortal as their Icing, to be like other nations, and Le led, judged, and ruled by a visible monarch. Their demand was n substantial rejection of God, that be should not reign over them (1 Sam. ·viii. 7). (~) As im·ohfog the idea of a king modelled on the pattern of the kinus around them. The king they wished for was one who would embody for them th.:lr own ideas of splendour and prowess, and these were of a purely carnal type. Saul, their first kinu, had many of the qualities which answered to their notion of a king, while David, ruling in humble suborJination to the will and authority of Heaven, answered to the Divine idea. Piety and submission at every point to the will of God are not elements that bulk largely in the co=on conception of a monarch. (3) As in,volvin_g self- willcdness. The people did not humbly present their case to God, and entreat him for a king. They took the law into their own bands, and demandtd one, or rather thty declared their intention of setting one over them, irrespective of whether God wished it or not. 2. A desire in some respects natural. 'l'he spiritual government of an iu\·isible Iluler was an idea difficult to grasp. The mind craved for some concrete and visililc embodiment of that authority under which they lived. It probably lay in God's purpose ultimately to give them a king, but it was necessary that they should be mado first distinctly to feel their need of it. The need in human nature to which this points is adequately supplied in the Messianic King, Christ Jesus. The central idea of the ~ingship of Christ is the personal indwelling of the Divine in the human. In Christ, moreover, is realized the three things which ancient nations sought for in their kings. (1) An ideal of personal excellence. "Heroic kingship depended partly on divinely gi"en prerogative, and partly on the possession of supereminent strength, courage, and wisdom" (Maine). (2) A leader inspiring them with personal devotion. (3) A bond of unity in the State, the monarch representing, as he docs still, the whole system of la~' and authority which is centralized and embodied in his person. "The king is the dot on the i" (Hegel). The kingship in Israel typified that of Christ. II. THE ELECTION OF A KING PROVIDED Fon. (Ver. 15.) The position of king in Israel was essemially different from that of the monarch of any other nation, While discLarging the same general functions as other kings (ruling, judging, leading in battle), his authori,:v was checked and limited in ways that theirs was not. He was no irresponsible despot, whose will was law and who governed as he listed. He filled tLe tbrune, not as absolute and independent sovereign, but only as the deputy of Jehovah, ancl ruled simply in the name and in subordination to the will of God-in tLis respect affording another marked type of God's true king, whom he has set on his holy Lill of Zion (Ps. ii.). This fact gave rise to a second pcculia1ity, that be had no authority to make law8, but only to administer the Law already given. The manner c,f Lis election corresponded to these peculiarities of bis position. 1. He was chosen under Divine gu:dance (cf. 1 Sam. x. 20, 21). 2. The Divine choice was ratified by the free election of the people (1 Sacn, x. 24). From which we learn (1) that the throne is strong only when it rests on the free choice, and ou the loyal affection of tbe body of the people. (2) That kingly, like all other anthority, is derived from God. This is a truth of general application, though it was in a peculiar sense true of Israel. The Scripture gi.es no sanction to the" right Divine of kings to govern wrong." Dut popular seutilllent bas always recognized that a certain "divinity doth hedge a king," Ancient nations (Egypt, etc.) held him to be the representative of God on earth. 'Iha 011. xvn. 1-20.] THE BOOK Olt' DEUTERONOMY. 29S
state and style with which a monarch is surrounded, and the homage paid to him, are expressions of the same idea. He embodies the functions of government, and has honour, majesty, and high-sounding titles bestowed on him on that ground. But this is simply to say that in certain respects he represents Deity. To constitute perfect "Divine right," it would be necessary: (a) That a monarch shoultl occupy the throne with perfect Divine sanction. Most rulers, on ascending the throne, try to make out however weakly, some shadow of right to it. (b) That he should govern in perfect accordance wit_h the Divine will. The only perfect case of ruling by Di vine right is tl,e reign of Christ. HI. THE CHARACTED OF THE KING DELINEATED, (Vers. 15-20.) He was to be an Israelite-one of tbemsel ves. Then : 1. He was not to multiply horses to himself; that is: (1) He was not to be ambitious of military distinction. (Z) He was not to place his main reliance for the defence of the nation on extravagant military prepara- tions. (3) He was not, for the sake of supposed material advantage, to lead the people into ensnaring alliances, 2. He was not to multiply wives to himself That is : (1) He was to avoid enervating luxury. (2) His court was to be chaste and pure. Cf. Tennyson, 'To the Queen:' "Her court was pure; her life serene," etc.; and 'Dedication' to the Idyls-