IV. The Precursor to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth

Now for the exception to all that what was before in human history in terms of a government.  We find here a supernatural and a perfect King. 

Ever since the giving of the Law through Moses, and for hundreds of years thereafter, God Himself was KING over His people Israel.  Israel had a Holy King. 

The nation of Israel was a theocracy!  God was directly intervening in the affairs of men through His judges: “Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.” [Judges 2:16]

Until Samuel the prophet God reigned as a supernatural King over His people Israel in total unlikeness to all the other nations on the earth. 

When we read of all of this in the book of First Samuel we can only marvel at this relationship, until it all ends. SIN came to the surface.  We find the people rejecting God as their king because they wanted to be like all the other nations.

Israel rejected their KING: “And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” [1 Samuel 8:7] 

This would not be the last time that they would reject their KING! 

Look at the Gospel according to Luke in chapter nine, verse twenty-two: “Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” [Luke 9:22] 

Now connect this with what the BOOK says in the book of Zechariah, chapter thirteen, verse six: “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” [Zechariah 13:6]

Jesus Christ was twice rejected in the house of his friends.

Thus, they came to Samuel in rebellion: “And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” [1 Samuel 8:5]

Watch it!  So, God gave them the desire of their heart as HE also did in the wilderness. 

Watch out what you ask for!  Psalm 106:15: “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”

God gave them their request and HE gave them a human king.   HE established the kingdom of Israel with the anointing of Saul.  See First Samuel chapter nine, verse sixteen: “To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.” [1 Samuel 9:16]   

After Saul turned from God, HE chose a man after his own heart­­­­­ – David.

We see this in the BIBLE in the First Book of Samuel, chapter thirteen, verse fourteen: “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” [1 Samuel 13:14] 

The first anointing of David to be king over Israel is recorded in the same book in chapter sixteen, verse thirteen: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” [1 Samuel 16:13]

The second anointing of David to be king over Israel occurred in Hebron in Second Samuel chapter two, verse four: “And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.” [2 Samuel 2:4]

The third anointing of David to be king over Israel occurred again in Hebron: “So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.” [2 Samuel 5:3] 

The whole thing was God establishing the Kingdom of Israel as a precursor to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ in “the restitution of all things” [Acts 3:21].

Read this later in the same book in chapter five, verse twelve: “And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.” [2 Samuel 5:12] 

This precursor of the Kingdom of Heaven reached its height during the reign of Solomon: “And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.” [2 Chronicles 1:1] “Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.” [1 Chronicles 29:23]

As it always seems to happen, and with the process of time, Israel forgot God, and God’s commandments.  For this God gave them over [Romans 1:28] for spoil and desolation: “Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.” [Isaiah 42:24]

This precursor of the Kingdom of Heaven was to be placed ON HOLD!

Next  V. The Sun King