Far Reaching Consequences

[425 words] God, who alone knows the future, set the regulations for Israel’s kings long before the people asked Samuel for one. All the way back in Deuteronomy the law for the king was clearly described. The king must be an Israelite. He must not acquire many horses or go back to Egypt to get more. He shouldn’t try for large amounts of silver and gold. And, “He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray” (Deuteronomy 17:17). Pretty much, if the people just had to have a king, God wanted humble and holy kings. These commands for the king were mostly ignored. Solomon broke every single one of these commands. So why does God tell us that there are certain things to do and certain things to not do? Is it just a test of obedience? Or does God, who knows the future, realize that…