17:14
We now get instructions on kings. Israel did not actually need a king, for God was their king. However, God knew full well that there would come a point where they wanted to be “like all the nations around us”. This did take place in the time of Samuel (1 Sam 8:5). This happened at a time when Samuel was growing old and his sons were not obedient to God. So in a sense it was understandable, though it was still disobedient to God. They looked for a man-made solution, rather than a Godly solution.
17:15
They were to appoint a king chosen by God. So God yet again makes allowance for their sinfulness. Eventually Jesus would be the King forever, God would be their King. The king had to be an Israelite, not a foreigner. It was bad enough with the Israelite kings, many of whom were all too willing to worship false gods. It would have been even worse if foreign kings had been in charge.
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