在人类历史和文化中，封立一位君王或统治者是一个常见的观念。然而，一位理想的君王是什么样子的呢？我们应该用什么标准来衡量君王的质素？
在今天的经文中，神藉着摩西说，祂预料以色列民会要求立一个王，就像其他国家有王一样。神便定下在地上立王的规条，祂列出基本的职务条件，和立定衡量君王质素的标准。
留意神也表示地上的君王是可有可无的，立王不是必须的，但祂也不禁止这样做。百姓如果想有一个君王，这人必须是从他们中间出来，他一方面是蒙神拣选，又同时是由百姓委任的。
听到对这位君王的描述，或许有点出人意料之外。他不可有过多的武器、妃嫔、或财富，尽管君王的观念是以色列民从四围的国家得来的，他们理想的王权其实却和当时的文化传统相反。其他国家的君王以武器、妃嫔、和财富来宣扬和拓展他们的统治权，然而以色列的君王却不应该是这样的。
对我们中间那些宣称基督为君王的人来说，我们看到祂和世上的君王实在有很大的分别。祂的王权是谦卑和平的，因为祂以神的慈爱和良善来统治，祂在世界各地维护公义和真正的公平。
神啊，我们赞美祢，因为祢在耶稣里赐我们一位管理世上每一个王的君王。求祢以祢的灵帮助我们学效祂的样式和追随祂和平的国度。阿们。
申命记 17:14-20
14“到了耶和华你神所赐你的地，得了那地居住的时候，若说：‘我要立王治理我，像四围的国一样’，
15你总要立耶和华你神所拣选的人为王。必从你弟兄中立一人，不可立你弟兄以外的人为王。
16只是王不可为自己加添马匹，也不可使百姓回埃及去，为要加添他的马匹，因耶和华曾吩咐你们说：‘不可再回那条路去。’
17他也不可为自己多立妃嫔，恐怕他的心偏邪，也不可为自己多积金银。
18“他登了国位，就要将祭司利未人面前的这律法书为自己抄录一本，
19存在他那里，要平生诵读，好学习敬畏耶和华他的神，谨守遵行这律法书上的一切言语和这些律例，
20免得他向弟兄心高气傲，偏左偏右，离了这诫命。这样，他和他的子孙便可在以色列中，在国位上年长日久。
"Be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses." - Deuteronomy 17:15
The idea of having a king or ruler is common throughout human history and culture. But what does an ideal king look like? By what standard should a king be measured?
In today's passage, the Lord, through Moses, anticipates that the time will come when Israel will want a king like all the other nations have. So here God gives his law for appointing a human king; he lays out the basic job requirements and gives a standard by which kings will be measured.
Note too that God shows that having a human king is optional. It is neither required nor forbidden. If the people want a king, the king must be someone from among them, both divinely chosen and appointed by the people.
The description of this king may seem surprising. He is not to have too much in the way of weapons, wives, or wealth. Though Israel may get the idea of the king from surrounding nations, the ideal for kingship will actually be countercultural. The kings of other nations used weapons, wives, and wealth to proclaim and advance their reign. But that was not to be the way in Israel.
For those of us who proclaim Christ as King, we note how different he is from worldly kings. His kingship is humble and peaceful because he reigns with God's love and goodness, maintaining righteousness and true justice everywhere.
We praise you, O God, for in Jesus you have given us the King who rules over all the kings of the earth. By your Spirit, help us to learn his ways and follow his kingdom of peace. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
