The ancient people of Israel cried out, “Give us a king.” The desire for a king displeased Samuel, but Yahweh allowed Samuel to appoint a king over Israel. The desire for a king was an expression of idolatry. “The LORD said to Samuel, ‘they have rejected Me from being king over them… they have forsaken Me and served other gods'” (1 Samuel 8:5-8). The perennial temptation of humanity is to exalt human leaders to divine status. Admiration easily becomes adoration.
In the theology of Israel the king was the adopted son of Yahweh. Psalm 2 is a coronation hymn and reflects the relationship between Yahweh and the king:
But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain. I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.“
This Israelite theology was distinct among the nations of the Ancient Near East, which insisted that their kings were descended from the gods. Not so with ancient Israel.
Even though the office of king was sanctioned by Yahweh the kings of Israel were failures. Saul “acted foolishly” by rebelling against the word of Yahweh and was dethroned (1 Samuel 13:13-14). His successor was his son-in-law, David, a man after God’s heart and the heroic warrior of Israel. But, like too many successful leaders David succumbed to temptation (2 Samuel 11:1ff). When confronted by the Prophet Nathan, David cried out, “I have sinned against the Lord’ (2 Samuel 12:13). Psalm 51 is traditionally attributed as David’s prayer of repentance in which he laments, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation!” (51:12). But David’s joy was not restored. Even though he was forgiven the consequences of his sin were great in that his family was profoundly dysfunctional. His son, Absalom, led a revolt. David died a broken man. Solomon ascended to the throne. Even though Solomon built the great Temple in Jerusalem, he was a serial idolater (1 Kings 11:1ff). In fact, the history of the kings of Israel demonstrates the failure of the royal dynasty. The prophets of Yahweh were often at odds with the corrupt kings. With the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, the last of the Davidic kings, Zedekiah, witnessed the execution of his sons, was blinded, and carried away in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7).
Theocratic governments often reflect the narcissism of a highly toxic leader and the willful collusion of a deluded populace. The kings of Christendom and the caliphs of the Islamic nations of the medieval world claimed a divine right to rule “in the name of God.” Their understanding of divine sanction could justify horrific acts. That’s why many secularist fear Christian nationalism in the same measure they fear an Islamic Caliphate. Throughout the history of humanity the marriage of religion and the state has borne the offspring of oppression and warfare. Thomas Jefferson’s favorite quote demonstrates the disdained of 18th century political philosophers for the union of church and state: “Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest” (Denis Diderot). In fact, there is no way to divorce the practice of religion from politics. But, we must resist the temptation of idolatry.
Jesus Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5). He is “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17); the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). Whereas, the kings of Israel ultimately failed in their covenant responsibilities Jesus Christ was truly after God’s heart declaring “not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). He was tempted to the same idolatry of all kings before him, but he resisted (Matthew 4:8-10). Because of his perfect obedience to the will of the Father, Jesus is declared to be “the Faithful and True witness” of God (Revelation 1:5; 3:14; 19:11).
We must understand that Christian faith and devotion trumps politics. Christians should be engaged in political discourse, but we must be very careful that our faith informs our politics rather than our politics shaping our faith. In the United States there are many devoted Christians who vote Republican; and there are many devoted Christians who vote Democratic. These believers are witnesses of the faith in the midst of corrupt political systems. But believers on both sides of the aisle must resist the idolatry of divinizing their political creeds.
Among the twelve disciples of Jesus were Matthew the Publican and Simon the Zealot (Mark 3:18; Acts 1:18). Matthew was the big government tax collector. Simon was the nationalist patriot. No doubt that they had conflicting political views. However, each man was committed to Jesus, both had their feet washed by Jesus, both sat at the Table of the Lord, and both gave their lives to the mission of Christ. Within the kingdom of God, there is room at the table for Publicans and Zealots, and Democrats and Republicans. But all must bow their knee and confess with their tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:10-11). As the late Bishop John Garlington once declared, “Jesus didn’t come to choose sides; He came to take over!”
