Insights from Israel Who has the Right to Rule?


by Jim Fast


Tere is a saying in Israel that the three main subjects of conversa- tion are politics — politics — and politics! Politics is the activity involved in the governance of a region or country, and Israelis have much to say about this around the coffee table.


Israel held its National Election in April, and for all intents


it looked like Prime Minister Netanyahu would serve a fiſth term. All he had to do was come up with a coalition of parties that would increase his 35 percent win and give him at least 61 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. In fact, it looked like he would easily get 65 seats. He was given the go-ahead by President Rivlin and had a period of time to win seats plus an extension of time if needed. But what looked so promising has not worked out because of one person, Avigdor Liberman, who has had a deep grudge towards Netanyahu. So the Israelis will go to the polls a second time this September.


Forming a government in Israel is quite a challenge — it’s


more like “patching together a government” — because the large number of parties creates a great spectrum of views. Netanyahu must try to form a coalition with those who most support his leadership. It is quite a gymnastics feat in and of itself.


Israel was meant to be a theocracy with God as King. God


intended a holy nation — a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 43:15; 44:6). Troughout the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness Israelites struggled and rebelled against the Lord. During the period of the Judges, they continually did evil and fell into Baal worship. During the time of the Prophet/Judge Samuel, the people of Israel asked for a king like all the nations (1 Sam. 8). When Samuel prayed to the Lord, the Lord told him that “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” So began the period of Israel’s kings.


Te King was to write out a copy of the Law, and read it.


Tere were good kings, many bad kings, and some who repented of their sinful ways. God made a promise to David, a man aſter his own heart, to establish his kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:12-16). As a result of the Assyrian and Babylonian Captivities, Israel ceased to have anyone who sat on the throne. Over the years there has been much interest, and searching for “the tombs of the kings of Israel.” I have visited two different sites where King David was supposedly buried. But God has not forgotten his promises to Abraham and David (Gen. 12:1-3; 15; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Matt. 1:1- 16). Israel’s rightful King became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), yet when he came, the nation rejected Him (John 1:11), and Jesus said “Your house is being leſt to you desolate” (Matt. 23:38). He was crucified, but three days later he rose. His tomb is empty (Acts 2:29-36), but he is coming back. In a future time Israel’s rightful King will reign (Matt. 23:39; Isa. 2:1-22; 9:6-7; 12; Ps. 24:7-10).


14 Fellowship Focus, July/August 2019 Aſter Israel’s independence, and the formation of the State


of Israel in May 1948, even while war still raged, an election committee was tasked with coming up with a design for Israeli government. Tey agreed that the voting age would be 18 years and older, and that the national legislature (Knesset) would be made up of 120 seats. Furthermore they decided that there would be no constituency representation in order to allow everyone freedom to speak. A political party originally required only one percent of the vote to be in the running. Today it requires 3.25 percent. As many as 50–60 groups can be seeking election. With these parameters, it is not hard to see why such intensity of poli- tics surrounds elections in Israel.


Romans 13 teaches us that God has established governing


authority. Te Scriptures furthermore declare that God is sover- eign, and he places people in places of authority as he wills. He also removes them as he wills. In regards to Israel, the Lord is sov- ereignly working out his plans established from eternity, and in keeping with his promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). We can see the prophecies of Ezekiel 37 coming together as we review Israel’s history and consider the political scene in Israel today. God is sov- ereignly working even through politics to accomplish his will.


Tis is a great encouragement to us as believers in these days.


Our God is on the throne. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. One day this whole world will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Finally, there will be a reign of peace when the rightful King sits on the throne of David.


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