Principles Governing Kings - Deut. 17:14-20

**14 “When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ **

Firstly, a nation consists of the boundary by which it is recognized. "the land". A land defines a people, and a people define the land. Geographic lines marking who is in and who is out. This is what the Lord gives to all peoples.

Secondly, the Lord gives the land. A land is not taken arbitrarily. Providence, history's clear mandate, demonstrates by its own weight the Lord's will. We can see this the manifest destiny of the American people.

Thirdly, we possess and dwell in it. It's 9/10ths of the law after all. Native Americans have no claim despite being first, they did not improve it, and they did not reside permanently.

**15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. **

Fourthly, "you shall surely set..". It is the consent of the people, whether in a monarchy or a true republic, that sets up governments.

Fifthly, "whom the Lord your God chooses;". It is by his clear will that governments are established. Without evidence of God's choosing there can be no government. He/they should be qualified, not encumbered with manifold sins, scandal, evidence of crimes, etc. This is often reflected in the people's will, but when the people are deceived, history has shown that a person who takes an office by cheating the people never remain long.

**16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ **

Sixthly, A king or government "shall not multiply horses for himself". It is a natural aim of illegitimate governments to amass wealth unto themselves, robbing the people by taxation exceeding that which the Lord takes for himself (10%). This is used on "horses", military instruments, meant only to further secure their position.

Seventhly, not having titles, alliances, or associations that would "cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses". A rightly set government is for the benefit of its own people, not another.

17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.

Eighthly, in the context of the ancient world, "they shall not multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away;", has to do, again, with foreign alliances. A wife was taken to cement a foreign obligation, or to artificially add to a person or government prestige, claim, or power it did not naturally have.

Ninthly, "nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself". A king or government, shall not accumulate wealth for themselves as a product of the office. We see in our own constitution this reflected in the emoluments clause. Furthermore, selling the office for gain is a sure marker of an evil government.

18 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.

In this last and Tenth point, a summary: Even a King is not above the Law. The law is king, the natural law, the moral law, the constitutional law. Every government rightly established in Christendom is a government of Law:

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet.

(Kinda ran out of steam there at the end, feel free to discuss.)