Tag: divided kingdom

A King Like The Nations

Dale Pollard

A King Like the Nations — The Warning 1 Samuel 8:20

In the First Book of Samuel, the people of Israel approached Samuel with a mighty bold demand— they wanted a king. Their exact words were, “Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles” (1 Samuel 8:20).

Up to that point, Israel was led directly under God through the judges and prophets. But the people craved something a little more familiar. You know the classics— political power, military leadership, and a visible human ruler. God warned them through Samuel that earthly kings would tax them, take their boys to war, and rule over them in ways they’d regret. Still, they insisted.

Israel’s monarchy began with Saul, followed by the famous (mostly awesome) reign of David and then the wisdom of Solomon. After this, things really fall apart. Literally. The kingdom didn’t remain united. After Solomon, the nation split into two rival kingdoms—the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. Sadly, what follows are even more of the “classics.” Corruption, idolatry, and political struggles would all eventually lead to their downfall.

The rise, division, and fall of Israel’s kings leaves us with this humbling truth— human rulers are flawed and temporary. No king, no government, and no political system can fully deliver the justice and peace that people ultimately long for.

The story of Israel’s kings points to the big need of a perfectly righteous and eternal king. We aren’t going to get that from anybody in the (oval-shaped) office— but heaven? Name a higher seat of power than the one Jesus sits on. We’ve got our perfect King and we can’t forget that. 


Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

Succeed In Everything

2 CHRONICLES 31

Dale Pollard

Hezekiah “prospered in everything” (2 Chron. 31.21) because…

HEZEKIAH WAS DETERMINED TO PUT GOD BACK WHERE HE BELONGED (v.2)

”Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to divisions—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.”

HE DEDICATED HIMSELF TO SERVICE (v.3)

“The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the LORD.”

HE DEVELOPED HIMSELF AND OTHERS (v.4)

“He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.”

HIS DEVOTION WAS DESIRED BY OTHERS v.5-6) 

Israel gave generously until there were heaps of their offerings piled up. 

HE DIRECTED ALL THE GLORY TOWARD GOD (v.8) 

When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and blessed his people Israel.

He Wasn’t Perfect But… 

What’s written about him in the summation of his life declares that Hezekiah was the last time Israel, or the world, would know a righteous king until Jesus appeared on earth (Matt. 1.10ff). 

“Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses” (2 Kgs 18.5-6).