You know from the science of history, that in the past, not only in Poland, but there were kings almost all over the world, who ruled the nations. They called their state a kingdom. Today there are only kings in some countries. The strange thing is, in the Church you still hear about the king and the kingdom. St.. he calls Jesus Christ the King, and us his kingdom. Do you know, what does it mean ? Is Christ's Kingdom similar to the former forms of political exercise? ?
God is the only King of his people
God chose a people, he delivered him from Egyptian bondage, he made a covenant with him and thus made him his people. From then on, this people was bound with God in bonds of friendship and love. He solemnly undertook to obey God in everything and to do His will. So God was the only Ruler and King of the chosen people.
In Palestine, God's People were surrounded by different nations, strong and well-organized. They were led by kings and continued to strengthen the power of their countries. At times, God's people felt threatened by their partitioning neighbors, especially the Philistines. Like neighboring nations, The Israelites wanted a king over them. So they turned to the prophet Samuel, to make a king over them. Samuel complains on behalf of God of the lack of trust among the chosen people. But God commands Samuel, that he would agree to the people's request and anoint Saul as king of the chosen people (1 Sm 8, 5-21).
The king was supposed to remember, that God is the only Ruler of the chosen people. Each king of the chosen people was to teach the people obedience to God. He was not to forget, that he is a servant of God and that he rules the People of God only in his name. The kingdom in the chosen people was a new form of covenant, that is, God's relationship with his people.
God makes David king of the chosen people
Saul forgot about it as time passed, that the proper King of the chosen people is God. He did not follow God's commands. That is why God chooses a new king for his people. David - the new king - will rule a people chosen according to God's purposes. St.. thus he shows us the calling of David, his anointing as king and God's promises regarding the future of his kingdom :
,,God spoke to Samuel : «I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen a king among his sons… »When they arrived, saw Eliab and spoke : "Surely before God is his anointed". Yet God spoke to Samuel : «Do not pay attention to his appearance either, nor high rise, for I have not chosen him, for this is not how man sees, as God sees, because the man is looking at it, what is visible to the eyes, The Lord, on the other hand, looks at the heart… »And Jesse introduced his seven sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse : "The Lord did not choose them". So Samuel asked Jesse : «Are they all young men? ?»He replied : «The smallest still remains, but he is herding sheep >>. Samuel said to Jesse : «Send for him and bring him here, for we will not begin the feast, until he comes ». So he sent and they brought him : he was ginger, he had beautiful eyes and an attractive appearance. God said : «Get up and anoint him, to ten ». So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed it in the midst of his brothers. From that day on, the spirit of God overwhelmed David " (1 Sm 16, 1b. 6-7. 10-13b) - Fourth Sunday of Lent (year A).
King David was faithful to God ; he always trusted him and he based his hopes only on him. Therefore, the Scriptures. calls him "a man after the Heart of God". He made Jerusalem his capital. It was called "the City of David". He brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, which was the greatest sanctity of the chosen people. He gathered all the tribes of the chosen people around Jerusalem. The king also wanted to build a temple for God.
God said the following to Nathan : “Go tell my servant David : It is God speaking : Will you build me a house to live in ?… I took you out of the pasture, among the sheep, that you may be ruler over my people, over Israel. And I was with you everywhere, where did you go, I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you the fame of the greatest people on earth. I will set a place for my people, To Israel and I will put him there and he will live in his place, and it won't move any more, and the wicked will no longer oppress him as they used to… When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your ancestors, then I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son " (2 Sm 7, 1-5. 8b-10a. 12-14a. 16) - Fourth Sunday of Advent (year B). After David's death, kings and the chosen people began to forget it, that they have a unique religious mission to fulfill among all nations. Because through them God wanted to bring other nations closer to Himself, reveal your will and your plans to them, to save them in this way. Meanwhile, the chosen people wanted to be like neighboring kingdoms and match them in wealth, political importance, military strength, and he forgot his most important calling. Then God rebuked the prophets, and he punished disobedience with failure, and even captivity, that his people might come to their senses.
God's Kingdom of the New Chosen People
A description of David's calling and anointing as king and the promises concerning his kingdom can be found in the liturgy of the fourth Sunday of Advent, on the fourth Sunday of Lent and the Solemnity of Christ the King. Then God addresses us as the new chosen people. It reminds us, that we are His kingdom already announced in the kingdom of David. For God promised David, that someday there will be a new one after it, eternal kingdom, and his offspring will be king. That descendant is Jesus Christ, named in Scripture. "Son of David", because it comes from his lineage. Christ announced and ushered in a new kingdom - God's Kingdom, not limited to any territory, not having an army, having nothing to do with the political powers and the power of the kings of the earth. Christ's kingdom is there, that its members voluntarily and lovingly fulfill God's will, they obey Him and love one another, as God Himself loves them. The task of this Kingdom on earth is to lead all people to know and love God, to fulfill His purposes, aimed at the welfare of all people. The beginning of the Kingdom of God on earth is the Church - the new People of God. His mission is purely religious, not earthly, political. When the Church is in danger of becoming too similar to the earthly kingdom, then God purifies him and recalls his proper mission. He chooses and sends people, who are perfectly obedient to His will.
How will I answer God ?
After the Second Vatican Council, the whole Church is renewed and deepened in obedience and fidelity to God, As a result, God's Kingdom grows in the world. You also belong to this Kingdom. How you will join in the renewal of the Church ? What do you do, to do God's will in your life better than before ? Is your mindset, expressing themselves and acting, it can bring others closer to the kingdom of God ?
Church after reading about King David (fourth sun. advent, year B) he sings to God a psalm of thanksgiving for it, that the promises made to David were fulfilled in Christ and are still being fulfilled in the church. Therefore, you too can truthfully pray with the words of this psalm :
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one ; I have sworn to my servant, David: I will establish your descendants forever, and I will establish your throne for all generations… In a vision you spoke in the past to your saints, and you spoke : I found David, my servant, I anointed him with my holy oil, that my hand may always be with him and my arm might strengthen him…
He will cry out to me : You are my Father,
My God and the rock of my salvation… I will keep my steadfast love for him forever
And my covenant with him will be faithful. Blessed be our God forever !” (Ps 88, 4-5. 20-22. 27. 29. 53a).
■ Think :
1. Whom the Israelites considered their supreme ruler ?
2. Which prompted the chosen people to do so, that he wanted a king "like other nations" ?
3. How did the mission of the chosen people differ from the tasks of other nations? ?
4. Why the Scriptures. calls King David a man "after God's Heart" ?
5. What a promise God made to King David ?
6. Why the promises made to David apply to us as well ?
■ Remember :
47. What was the kingdom of David to the chosen people ?
David's kingdom was a new form of covenant for the chosen people, that is, the relationship of God with the chosen people.
48. What promises God made to King David ?
God promised King David, that his descendant will assume the eternal, indestructible kingdom.
49. In whom the promises made to David are fulfilled ?
The promises made to David are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who comes from the lineage of David, and in the Church, which is the beginning of God's kingdom, founded by Christ on earth.
■ Task :
1. List these features of the Davidic kingdom, which distinguished them from other earthly kingdoms.
2. Set these features of the Church of Christ, that set it apart from other communities.