Day 141

1 Samuel 8:1-10:8, John 12:12-36, Psalms 65:1-13

At first I thought that Israel asking for a king was a positive thing, they had been without anyone and it had got them into trouble. When we read on though we see that their focus is still out of kilter.

In their history God has been the head of the nation. He has used people to speak, guide and generally try and keep the people in good order, but they have been men of God. “Of God”. Everyone knew who was at the top and that meant that all was well. God is quite clear in the current climate, and in this request for a king, that the people are seemingly giving up on God full stop, they now want a human king to be their supreme leader. At the end of the day that is what a king is, top of the food chain, and that was where the people had always seen God in the past.

The people did not count on Samuel though, and God speaking through Samuel. There will be a king, but chosen by God and anointed by God, and there are rules too. And so a king is found.

From one king we move on to another, a king riding on a donkey, entering a holy city and being proclaimed king of the Jews. The way that the spirit is bringing passages together within our reading is awe inspiring. From the anointing of the very first king of Israel we move straight on to the words “Blessed is the King of Israel” in respect of Christ. When we factor good old David into the equation we see the huge significance of the Kingship of Israel and here the first and last king of the Jews sit side by side.

“Do not be afraid oh Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt”.

So let us join with the Psalmist and all of Zion in singing praise to the king of all people. King of Kings. Lord of Lords.