Deuteronomy Chapter 17: Verses 18-20 (NIV-UK)
When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
1 Samuel Chapter 8: verses 19-20 (NIV-UK)
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
God didn’t want Israel to have a king. He wanted them to be different from the other nations round about them and be totally reliant on Him. But He knew that in time they would ask for a king so that they could be like all the other nations and so He tells them what to do when that day comes. A good reminder for us that God knows all about what is in our hearts before we even tell Him.
God told the people that the most important thing for their King was that He should always have access to the word of God, read it and be familiar with it, and follow God’s ways. He was also not to think of himself as any better than his fellow Israelites.
At King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, he was presented at the beginning of the ceremony with a copy of the Bible, and the Moderator said, “We present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God.” The presentation of the Bible has been a part of every Coronation since Mary II and William III in 1689, perhaps following on from this instruction in Deuteronomy.
However, surely this instruction is wise advice for us all; If we too regularly access the word of God and apply its instruction to our own lives, then surely we also will live the lives that God intended us to, no matter what walk of life we are in. The words spoken to the King at the Coronation apply just as equally to us. We should never take for granted the ready access that we can have to God’s word, and always do our best to follow its instruction. We should also remember that we too should not consider ourselves better than anyone else.
Dear Lord,
Im grateful for the access to the words of truth found in the Bible. I know its truth applies as much to my life as it does to Kings, Queens and those in authority. May I be careful to heed its instruction as You intended. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.