June 12: Deuteronomy 17
The most important people on the totem pole
One principle embedded in God’s world is that there is hierarchy. Our generation sneezes at that word, but that’s because we don’t understand the rest of the principle: that though there is hierarchy, stipulated by God, everyone in the hierarchy submits in the same way to those above them. There is great equality in this. Everyone submits to someone.
Even, especially, kings. This is nowhere more clear than in Deuteronomy 17 and Moses’ commandments for kings (beginning in verse 14). There are three prohibitions, which we will get to in a moment. But the one and only thing the king is positively commanded to do is write out a copy of the Torah for himself, to then study it, and then do it.
This command is followed by a promise. If he would do this, three blessings would follow: he would not become conceited and elevate himself above his brothers; he would not turn from the good ways; and he and his offspring would continue long in prosperity.
This command and promise structure echoes the fifth commandment, which, as Paul points out in Ephesians 6, is the first command with a promise - that if children honor their parents, they will live long and prosperously in the land. The king must do the same to his Father, Yahweh. The smallest child and the king of the land and everyone in between have the same charge, to be obeyed by faith in the same promise.
There is hierarchy present, and yet hierarchy does not make the king inherently greater than his brothers (see verse 20). It means he occupies a role on the hierarchy. In the religion of Yahweh, one never assumes their importance based on their place on the totem pole. After all, the most important people on totem poles, researchers discovered, are the people on the bottom.
All this was demonstrated by the King, Jesus. He never relinquished his role as King of all, nor as the Son of God. Thus in submission to the Father, he humbled himself to the role of slave, even death on a cross, for us. He is a glorious King who wears a gentle yoke. Thus the weapons of his empire are wrapped in humble packaging: not horses, sex or wealth (verses 16-17) but broken bread, spilled wine and clean water. His is an everlasting kingdom, where the humble submit - and reign with him.