Bible Talks

WE NOW hear of a time to come when Israel, now in possession of the land and dwelling there, would desire a king like all the nations around them. God warns them not to choose a stranger; but one of their own brethren whom the Lord Himself should choose they should set as king over them.
In the days of Samuel we read they did demand a king, but in doing so it showed they did not rightly appreciate all the blessings and favors the Lord had bestowed upon them. In reality they rejected Him in favor of a mere man in order to be like the Gentiles. God allowed them to have Saul as king, but this only brought out His real choice David, "the beloved." He was but a type of One yet to come, the Lord Jesus, David's greater Son, who will reign as King forever. Prophet, Priest and King will all be united in His blessed and glorious Person. Scripture says that a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Eccles. 3:1212I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. (Ecclesiastes 3:12)). So we can see that here God as always is looking on to Christ: He will not fail. "All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen." (2 Cor. 1:2020For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Corinthians 1:20).)
The king was not to "multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way."
The king needed to be reminded of his dependence upon God. How prone is the human heart to turn away from Him and trust in something else! Alas, king Solomon, David's son and the wisest of men, failed in the very things God warns His people of here. When the children of Israel under Joshua first entered Canaan they destroyed the horses of the Canaanites and burned their chariots (Josh. 11:6,96And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. (Joshua 11:6)
9And Joshua did unto them as the Lord bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire. (Joshua 11:9)). However, we read of David that after defeating Hadadezer he kept 100 horses for chariots. But Solomon, it says, had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen (1 Kings 4:2626And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. (1 Kings 4:26)).
Scripture says "an horse is a vain thing for safety" (Psa. 33:1717An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. (Psalm 33:17)). Its use in war was evidence of failure in confidence in the Lord. These horses came from Egypt, type of the world. There is much that comes from the world in which we might put our confidence, but may we learn to trust in the Lord more and more and to find our all in Him. Faith will say, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." Psa. 20:77Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7).
Messages of the Love of God 5/25/1975