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Judges 21:25 – The Stage Is Set

Another way the LORD has been pleased to use the events recorded at the end of the Book of Judges is to set the stage for the establishment of the kingship in Israel. Unwilling to submit to God’s Kingship, the Israelites will demand a king like the nations around them. The LORD will give them Saul, a Benjaminite of Gibeah whose first action as king will be to aid the town of Jabesh-Gilead (suggesting that he is a descendant of one of the women of that town who was forced into marriage with a surviving man of Benjamin). After giving them the kind of king they thought they wanted, the LORD will next give Israel a king after His own heart, David, who will be God’s fulfillment of His promise in Deuteronomy 17:14-15 to give Israel an appropriate king of His choice.

The Book of Judges was written in the days of King David or one of his descendants. Thus we can see that the words, “In those days there was no king in Israel,” would serve as a warning to Israel not to ignore God’s authority mediated through the king of David’s line whom He had given them. However, the LORD, Himself, was the true King of Israel (as David will acknowledge in Psalm 5:2, for example).

We see these two streams of kingship – that of God and that of His chosen human king – coming together in the Person of Jesus Christ, who, according to His human heritage is the rightful King of Israel descended from David, and who is the King of Creation because He is God, Himself. Furthermore, as the Person of the Godhead who humbled Himself and took the form of a servant, He has been exalted (Philippians 2:4-11) and given to the Church as the Head of all things (Ephesians 1:22). That He is the Ruler of all on behalf of the Church is known as the Mediatorial Kingship of Jesus Christ. May we be grateful that the LORD has so governed the events of history that He has given us such a King.

Questions

  1. Who is the ultimate King of Israel? In whom do the two streams of kingship, God’s and His chosen human king, come together?
  2. What is the Mediatorial Kingship of Jesus Christ?

Prayer Points

  1. Thank God that He has given Christ to the Church as the Head of all.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.