The NKJV, in 1 Sam. 14:45, says that “Saul established his sovereignty over Israel.” We are in that time when God has already determined that Saul’s kingdom will not continue, and that God seeks a man after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). So this caught my attention. Here is what I found.
“Sovereignty” is a king
term, but one that refers to the trappings of a king, the things that make him
look like royalty. The word (Heb. meluka,
royalty) is never used of David. It is
used 24 times: 8X about and by Saul; 3X of Israel’s neighbors; 12X of Solomon
and other descendents of David, and also of kings of Israel. One time, in Ps. 22:28, we are told, the kingdom
is the LORD’s and He reigns over the nations. Here are a couple of additional notes.
·
Shimei, the descendant of Saul, who shamed David
as he fled Jerusalem in the days of Absalom, accused David of having been a
bloodthirsty man in taking the “royalty” of Saul (2 Sam. 16:8).
·
In the early chapters of 1 Kings (e.g. 1:46;
2:25) it is used of Solomon’s brother who tried to become king. In other words, Adonijah had the trappings,
looked kingly for some who were willing to follow him, but he never had the
authority from David, as we will see.
There is another term, from the same root as
the preceding term, that is translated “kingdom”: mamlaka, mng. kingdom,
dominion, reign, sovereignty. This was
used of Saul, but in the context of losing it (1 Sam. 13:13-14; 24:20; 28:17; 2
Sam. 3:10). It is also used of David,
most notably by the LORD in making His covenant with David (2 Sam. 7:12,13,16). In my thinking, when I think of King David,
I don’t think of his “trappings.” A lot of what he had in his “storehouses” was
for the temple that would be built by his son.
But I do think of the establishment of a national border when I think of
David. Saul fought against Israel’s
enemies (14:47-48) but the borders became secure in David’s time.
Mamlaka is used, significantly, of
Messiah in Isa. 9:7. What it says is, upon
the throne of David and over His kingdom.
There are no references to the throne of Saul; but there are many to the
throne of David and his descendents.
·
It is interesting that Eli (1 Sam. 1:9) and
Elisha (2 Ki. 4:10) had a “throne” (same word).
The priest and prophet had not only a seat of honor but one of
authority.
·
Of significance is that God combines the throne
and kingdom in making His covenant with David (1 Sam. 7:18). The throne speaks of authority. In 1 Kings Solomon’s throne is “the throne of
David” (1 Ki. 1:13; 2:12); in Chronicles his throne is the Lord’s (1 Chron.
28:5) and Israel’s (2 Chron. 6:10). And, as we have noted, Messiah has David’s
throne and kingdom.
Now, what is the point for me? It has to do with authority that is
real. In the context of Saul and David,
to me it says something about what it means to be a man after God’s heart. Saul was rejected because he did not have
that heart. Thus, he had the trappings
of royalty. As we know, Saul was about “looks.” He looked like a king. He bossed people around like a king, but it
wasn’t from real authority. He
threatened them but he did not speak with real authority. David was different. He had a royal throne, though we have no idea
what it looked like. We just know that
God established his throne and that was the basis for his kingdom.
As a Christian, I have what we can call the “raw
power of God” (dunameis, strength). It
comes through His Spirit (Eph. 3:16). But
I do not merely have the “trappings” of royalty in Christ. I have the authority, through faith in
Christ, to be a son of God (Jn. 1:12).
It is an authority given by Christ to all who believe. He has the authority to grant to believers
the right or authority to have this wonderful familial relationship. I have nothing that has not come to me “in
Christ.” By His authority (throne) I
have every spiritual blessing “in Christ.”
Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment