The laws that God gave for the kings of Israel provide valuable insights into godly leadership. Though Israel transitioned from being led by judges to having a monarchy, God still expected the kings to follow His ways. By looking at the various laws and instructions that God gave regarding the kings of Israel, we can gain wisdom for leadership today.
The King was not to multiply horses, wives or wealth
One of the first instructions God gives pertaining to future kings of Israel was that “he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ Nor shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself” (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). This reveals some key dangers that leaders often struggle with – reliance on military might, lack of sexual self-control, and the love of money. Yet the antidote was wholehearted devotion to God. Israel’s kings were to avoid relying on their own strength and instead fully depend on the Lord.
The King was to Write His Own Copy of the Law
“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them” (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). God instructed every King of Israel to handwrite his own copy of Scripture. This showed the priority of God’s Word in the leader’s life. The King was to meditate, study, and obey the law of God all his days. His leadership was to be saturated with Scripture.
The King was to Trust and Obey God’s Commands
The kings of Israel were repeatedly exhorted to carefully follow God’s laws and commands. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). God wanted the kings to rely on Him rather than military might. They were to walk by faith, even in challenging circumstances. Their confidence was to be in the Lord rather than human strength or wisdom.
The King was to Lead the People to Obey God
Since the king heavily influenced the spiritual state of the nation, God exhorted them to be strong spiritual leaders over the people. “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands” (2 Chronicles 14:2-4). The king was to lead by example and direct the people towards wholehearted obedience to God.
The King was to Trust God, Not Alliances
Rather than trusting in military alliances, God wanted the kings to rely on Him. “Asa called to the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you’” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Even when facing overwhelming odds, the king was to put his confidence in the Lord rather than human help.
The King was to Ensure Justice Prevailed in the Land
“King Solomon ruled over all Israel…God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt…he spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom” (1 Kings 4:1-34). God gifted Solomon with great wisdom in order to lead the people justly.
The King was to Avoid Arrogance and Pride
“After Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord…the Lord appeared to him at night and said: ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there’” (2 Chronicles 7:12-16). God warned Solomon to remain humble despite being given so much wisdom, wealth and power.
The King was to Care for the Poor and Needy
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3-4). The kings were consistently reminded to care for the vulnerable and marginalized within the kingdom. Their leadership was to be marked by compassion, not exploitation of the poor.
The King was to Promote National Righteousness
The chronicler summarized king Asa’s reign: “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him” (2 Chronicles 14:2-5). The king was to lead by example and direct the nation into moral, spiritual renewal.
The King was Subject to God’s Law
“Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:1-6). The king was not above God’s law but was expected to follow it wholeheartedly like any other citizen.
The King was to Point People to the Lord
Though the king wielded much earthly power and authority, his ultimate purpose was to point people towards God. King David expressed this well in his final address to the people: “The God of Israel chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever…But now, O God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true” (1 Kings 8:15-26). David’s leadership was not about elevating himself, but elevating the name of the Lord.
The various laws and principles that God gave for the kings of Israel provide a pattern of godly leadership that remains relevant today. Though modern government leaders are not required to follow all the specific religious rituals of ancient Israel, these biblical principles demonstrate that true leadership is not about power, fame or wealth. Rather, godly leadership is centered on humble obedience to the Lord, caring for the vulnerable, governing justly, promoting righteousness, and pointing people towards dependence on God rather than human strength. The Bible offers profound insight for all who desire to lead wisely and well.
