God knew the day would come, the day when His people would ask for a king (1Samuel 8:5-7,19-20). It would be inevitable that they would eventually want to layer in a man-on-the-throne monarchy over their God-in-the-midst theocracy. And so, knowing the day would come, God graciously provides a section on “How to Be King” (chapter 17, verses 14 to 20) within His “Promised Land Preparation” guide (Deuteronomy).

He would be a king of God’s choosing. He would be a king from among one of the tribes of Israel. What’s more, there were certain things he wasn’t to do, “lest his heart turn away”, and one pretty big thing he was to do, “so that he may continue long in his kingdom.”

I’m chewing on that big thing, this morning. And, it’s not just a king thing.

“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, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”

(Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ESV)

After writing out his inauguration speech, the new king’s first job was to write out a copy of the law. Before penning any new legislation, he was to pen a bible. And that copy of God’s word was to be with him, to be read by him, and to be kept by him. It would be the guiding source of his reign all the days of his life. It would be the protecting groundwork for his heart for all the leading he was to do.

I’m no king, but there are certain things I’m responsible for. No regent, yet a certain sphere of responsibility. No grand power, though a fair amount of freedom to exercise my prerogative. And this as a child of God, a follower of Jesus, and an ambassador for a heavenly kingdom. How do I faithfully discharge my duties then? What’s going to keep me on the rails so that I don’t “turn aside.” Perhaps I’d be wise to take a cue from God’s “So You Wanna Be a King” handbook.

I know of a man who wrote out the bible by hand (King James version no less) — he was the father of a friend of the family who had the three-ring binders on display in a little bookstore she ran out of her home. Wouldn’t that be an undertaking? A good exercise, but glad it’s not a required expectation.

But to have a bible “with me”, to “read in it”, to “keep its words”, now that’s something I think is paramount to leading whatever life I’ve been graced of God to lead. Critical for staying rightly aligned with the King of kings. Vital for learning to the fear the Lord. Essential for being transformed by the renewing of my mind. Critical for being conformed to the likeness of my Savior. Foundational for flourishing, whatever the realm I’ve been given by God to operate within.

And it shall be with him . . .

Not just a king thing.

Word of God speak.

By His grace. For His glory.