The epilogue of the book of Judges says, In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes
, chapter 21, verse 25. Now what is that really telling us?
The godly king balances responsibilities of family with the need to maintain righteous judgement and authority. To examine the role of the king in Israel I think that it is important to understand the role of the judge and how that came to be rejected.
The role of the Judge
The people constantly went into apostasy and were punished by God sending them into oppression or captivity by the Canaanites. When they cried out and repented God delivered them by a judge. The judge delivered them out of oppression and kept them away from apostasy. It was not that there was no government in Israel because it was governed by chiefs or dukes and heads of families in each clan. They were intended to be a confederacy by God. That is the promise that He had made to Abraham in Genesis 35:11, a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee
. The judge was the person selected by God to bring judgement and lead them away from apostasy. They did not like God's way of doing things and wanted a HEREDITARY central government like everybody else.
The Hebrew term shofet, which is translated into English as “judge,” is closer in meaning to “ruler,” a kind of military leader or deliverer from potential or actual defeat. In a passage from the so-called Ras Shamra tablets (discovered in 1929), the concept of the judge as a ruler is well illustrated:
Our king is Triumphant Baal,
Our judge, above whom there is no one!
The magistrates of the Phoenician-Canaanite city of Carthage, which competed with Rome for supremacy of the Mediterranean world in the 3rd century bce, were called suffetes, thus pointing toward the political authority of the judges.
The office of judgeship in the tribal confederacy of the Israelites, which was centred at a covenant shrine, was not hereditary. The judges arose as Yahweh saw fit, in order to lead an erring and repentant people to a restoration of a right relationship with him and to victory over their enemies.[BritannicaJudges: importance and role Britannica.comWEB2021-09-25]
Judge is neutral in gender. Deborah was a judge.
Deborah
Judges 4:1-3 (KJV) And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
Deborah was a prophetess and married to a man called Lapidoth. She ruled Israel i.e. they did what she told them to.
Judges 4:4-5 (KJV) And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
God told Deborah to instruct a man named Barak that he was to take the lead in delivering Israel in battle. Barak said that he would go only if Deborah accompanied him. Deborah warned him that if she went then a woman would get the credit for delivering them from Sisera. So said so done. After Barak and his ten thousand men did the bulk of the fighting this happened.
Judges 4:17-24 (KJV) Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
GIDEON
Another important judge, perhaps the most important other than Samuel, was Gideon, whose exploits are related in chapters 6 to 8 of Judges. He gave Israel victory over the Midianites.
In Judges 6:1-6 We find that as usual Israel had been rebellious against God. This time He put them under the thumb f the Midianites for seven years. So as usual they cried for help.
Judges 6:7 (KJV) And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,
God chose Gideon to deliver them.
Judges 6:11-16 (KJV) And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Gideon made a present/offering to worship God and as a sign the angel that came to him burnt it up with the touch of his staff. Gideon built an altar on the site and offered to God and the same night God instructed him to tear down the altar of Baal that was there, make an altar to YHWH and offer his father's bullock. Gideon did it at night for fear of the servants but in the morning they saw it and figured out that he had done it. They told his father Joash to bring him so that they could dispense their justice. Joash wanted to know if Baal could not defend himself. Then he renamed Gideon.
Judges 6:32 (KJV) Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
In verses 36-40 we get the story of the fleece. First the dew drenched the fleece only and left the ground dry then the second night God drenched the ground and left the fleece dry. Gideon mustered an army of thirty two thousand but God said that they were too many, because Israel would think that they were delivered by the strength of the army. God set about to whittle them down until they were only three hundred.
Judges 7:7-8 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
Gideon divided them into three groups of one hundred.
Judges 7:19-25 [KJV] So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
Gideon went on to do many other exploits and they wanted to make him king.
Judges 8:22-23 (KJV) Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
Gideon understood the value of having God as king. He also understood that judges ruled under God the king.
JUDGES WERE REJECTED IN THE TIME OF SAMUEL
Samuel's predecessor was Eli. They both made the mistake of thinking to establish a hereditary judgeship. They assumed that their children would follow in their footsteps but their children ended up being horrible leaders.
Sons of Eli
Eli's sons were Hophni and Phinehas. They disrespected God's law in dealing with sacrifices.
I Samuel 2:12-17 [KJV] Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
They abused the women that came to the Tabernacle and disrespected God's commandments.
I Samuel 2:22-25 [KJV] Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
Because Eli did not restrain them God sent him this prophecy.
I Samuel 2:27-36 [KJV] And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy fathers house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. 34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
That was a terrible prophecy and addresses our need to be responsible and not let friends or family corrupt us in serving God.
I Samuel 4:17-22 [KJV] And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 19And his daughter in law, Phinehas wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
There is no record of the line of Eli after Ichabod.
Sons of Samuel
Samuel also had two sons and put them in charge of Israel. He did not learn from Eli that children are not automatically accepted as rulers. They must be chosen by God.
I Samuel 8:1-3 [KJV] And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Israel had no reason to be concerned over Samuel as judge but they saw that his children were rebellious and should not have been made judges in Israel. Israel sinned in their demand for a king because it showed that they did not trust God to provide after Samuel. The elders of Israel came to Samuel at his home in Ramah and said, Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations
(1 Samuel 8:4-5). The word that they used here is masculine.
Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionaries of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments- H4428 melek (meh'-lek) n-m.
- malkiy (mal'-kee) [personal possessive]
- a king.
- [from H4427]
- KJV: king, royal.
- Root(s): H4427
They wanted a man over them. They did not consider the role of judge, which God had given Israel, to be enough for them. Judges had no gender bias or hereditary standing. Israel's request was evil in the eyes of Samuel, and he prayed to Yahweh (1 Samuel 8:6). God's reaction was, they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them
(1 Samuel 8:7).
Israel could not see that the very thing that they were objecting to was what they were putting themselves into permanently. They were upset about Samuel's children as judges but God could change that any time. They wanted a permanent king who would certainly produce the same problem in addition to the encumbrances introduced for his maintenance, and then they could do nothing about it apart from wiping out the whole dynasty.
God warned them through Samuel that it was not a good idea. He told Samuel to protest solemly
.
I Samuel 8:6-9 [KJV] But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 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. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
Nevertheless they rejected God's way and did things their own way.
I Samuel 8:19-22 [KJV] Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
THE ROLE OF THE KING
What was the role of the king? According to the Israelites it was the same as the judge; I Samuel 8:5 [KJV] . . . now make us a king to judge us like all the nations
, just that it was hereditary. Because it is hereditary and not subject to God's discretion, it is allegorically a male role, since it replaces God as overall head of a state. The judge knew that he was only there as it pleased God at that time. The king is permanent and must sustain a dynasty. Notice however that (according to the same source as before) the word translated king
in Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 is not masculine:
- G935 βασιλεύς basileus (ɓa-siy-lefs') n.a
- sovereign (king, emperor, ruler).
- {abstractly, relatively, or figuratively}
- [probably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power)]
- KJV: king
- Root(s): G939
The word means ruler and can be male or female. It goes back to the same meaning of the word judge
in the Old Testament.
The most important role of a king, equal to judging under God, is to produce godly seed to rule after him. We saw that, with the best of intentions, men have never been able to do that i.e. create a legacy of godly rulers. What Christ actually said was this, Matthew 19:28 (KJV), And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel
; also in Luke 22:30 [KJV], That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel
. In the millennium we are to judge but the concept of kings is misleading. The most important responsibility apart from ruling under God is to govern family and operating within a family. That means that we get divided responsibilities but it does not mean that we are responsible for creating a legacy. That is up to God. From the example of Christ we see that in spite of His biological family God gave Him a family of disciples. We need to treat whomever God gives us as family and follow the rules that God gives us for loving family, but we need to rule our charges and keep them out of apostasy. Our responsibility as a judge is paramount if we accept the office. That is not always a goody-goody
responsibility. If we cannot stand for righteousness among those close to us we are a sub-standard judge and a danger to those who are close to us, as comes out in the lives of Eli, Samuel, Josiah and others. We do need to develop seed that can take over from us but the choice of who takes over is God's. It is critical that we learn to balance both. We cannot judge by God's standards if we cannot function as Godly family and the incubator for that is our earthly family. If we cannot learn to love them with godly love then we cannot love God (I John 4:20 [KJV], If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
) . On the other hand we also cannot judge if we are unable to rise above Eli and Samuel and judge our family impartially. In order to be a good judge and keep people out of apostasy we have rules like the Ten Commandments, statutes and judgements that we can apply. There are no set rules for loving and developing family. That is not to say that there is nothing. They are the two primary rules that Christ demonstrated: (1) Never abandon family (2) Always make time for family.
Being family
As coming king, Christ was given people to follow Him that were His family, apart from his biological family. It was a gift from God. Once we have prayed and are given the gift of family then we need to remember that that is what it is. God did not make a mistake. We need to follow Christ's approach. Our families are not a mistake, although they may certainly be a challenge.
Abandonment
We cannot abandon God and we cannot abandon our families.
To abandon people we first label them. Our children or parents are never a this or a that, just a work in progress and sometimes that means but by prayer and fasting
. The minute that you decide that the work is complete and you label them you have abandoned them. God is not finished with them. The most severe case in the Bible is Jacob.
Genesis 25:24-26 [KJV] And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
The name Jacob means supplanter
. He was born like that. What do we know of supplanters?
Jeremiah 9:4-6 [KJV] Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. 5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. 6 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.
Was Jacob true to His name?
Genesis 27:34-36 [KJV] And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
Jacob made the mistake of deciding who was to lead his dynasty after him. God could have made either of his sons the one to carry on but he chose the usurper. There is nothing too hard for Him: Matthew 19:26 [KJV] But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible
, Jeremiah 32:27 [KJV] Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me
?
So God changed the nature of Jacob.
Genesis 32:24-28 [KJV] And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacobs thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Genesis 35:9-10 [KJV] And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
There is a diference between abandonment and being rejected. Jacob ran away from his father and he had to let him go. Christ gave examples to His disciples of what to do when rejected (Matthew 10:14, Acts 13:51, Luke 10:11) and He gave similar instructions to Samuel. He also gave the story of the Prodigal Son to show that we cannot hold on to people if they chose to sever ties with us, nevertheless we cannot abandon them.
Time allocation
You can't do it and I can't do it. We can't allocate enough time. The book of Ecclesiastes explains that time is controlled by God and we are fooling ourselves if we think that we can accomplish anything lasting without Him. We must allocate some time but by and large it is about always being accessible and available to God and to your family. God is the one who will make that time productive if we seek His help.
Christ
One of the things that people claim never to have enough of is time. Jesus took time to pray even for his enemies and he did it while in great distress.
Luke 23:32-34 [KJV] And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
So if He was able to find time to pray for enemies under those circumstances, how is it that we cannot find time to pray for and with family?
Jesus took time to listen to criminals even on the cross.
Luke 23:39-43 [KJV] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
So if He found time to listen to criminals how is it that we cannot listen to parents or children?
Jesus took time to look out for his mother even when He was on the cross.
John 19:25-27 [KJV] Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
If he found time and a way to look out for his mother, how is it that we have no time for children or spouse or parents as the case may be?
Luke 23:46 [KJV] And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
How is it that He was Lord of the universe with so many responsibilities, but found time to drop everything for three days and three nights for people who did not care for Him, and we cannot find time for our families?
Successful use of time is from God
Our time is precious but it is useless apart from the plan of God.
John 21:3-11 [KJV] Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fishers coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
When we are devoting time it must be put to God to aid in its success.
Romans 8:31-32 [KJV] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Proverbs 19:21 [KJV] There are many devices in a mans heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Proverbs 16:1-3 [KJV] The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. 3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Being a righteous judge
When Christ was here before, He showed us how to develop family. When He returns He comes as the other side of ruler, one that puts down rebellion and establishes order and justice. The Bible is full of rules for righteousness, much of which is laid out in the Ten Commandments, the Statutes and the Judgements of the old Testament. Beyond those there are some guidelines that we find in proverbs.
some proverbs for a king/judge
What applies to a king in the Old Testament applies to us as kings/judges. Kings reign in wisdom. God gives wisdom. He did it with Solomon.
Proverbs 8:15 [KJV] By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
A king remembers that his position depends on having subjects.
Proverbs 14:28 [KJV] In the multitude of people is the kings honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
Encouragement for good and discouragement of evil.
Proverbs 14:35 [KJV] The kings favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
A king has access to guidance from God so he never makes unjust judgements.
Proverbs 16:10 [KJV] A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
A king must adhere to righteousness.
Proverbs 16:12 [KJV] It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
A king should speak righteousness and attract the love of those that are righteous.
Proverbs 16:13 [KJV] Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Subjects should feel priviledged to be in our company
Proverbs 16:15 [KJV] In the light of the kings countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
Dew is light and refreshing not like a deluge that washes things away.
Proverbs 19:12 [KJV] The kings wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
We will discourage evil with a glance.
Proverbs 20:8 [KJV] A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
This is talking about a winnowing cart that separates chaff from grain. He brings out the best even in the wicked, if there is any good.
Proverbs 20:26 [KJV] A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Mercy and truth. Everybody likes mercy to be shown to them but they do not necessarily like truth.
Proverbs 20:28 [KJV] Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
We will be guided by God no matter how challenging.
Proverbs 21:1 [KJV] The kings heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
We will love people of a pure heart.
Proverbs 22:11 [KJV] He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
We will empower the diligent.
Proverbs 22:29 [KJV] Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
We will get to the bottom of complex matters.
Proverbs 25:2 [KJV] It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
There will be no bribes to corrupt the nation.
Proverbs 29:4 [KJV] The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
The poor will be able to depend on us.
Proverbs 29:14 [KJV] The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
We will not allow ourselves or our leaders to be intoxicated and suffer from impaired judgement.
Proverbs 31:4 [KJV] It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Some more proverbs that a king should benefit from
We will encourage diligence and productivity.
Proverbs 6:6-9 [KJV] Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
We will be able to discern ungodly pride (haughtiness) and avoid it.
Proverbs 16:18 [KJV] Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
We will know whom to correct and who to leave to their own devices.
Proverbs 9:7 [KJV] He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
Proverbs 26:4-5 [KJV] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Some people in important positions cannot be advised.
Proverbs 12:1 [KJV] Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
We will know the best choice of words.
Proverbs 16:23-24 [KJV] The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
When there is rebhellion against God and lawlessness there are many authorities but someone understanding God's way prolongs the nation.
Proverbs 28:2 (KJV) For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
III John 1:9 [KJV] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
We will remember where we came from. When you see one poor person oppressing other poor people it rapes the country dry.
Proverbs 28:3 (KJV) A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
Proverbs 28:6 [KJV] Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
We will not tolerate people who lie.
Proverbs 29:12 [KJV] If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
In the Millennium the resource that will enable us to balance these and create a wonderful society is the Spirit of God. There will be an abundance of that in us and in the world at large.
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