SCRIPTURES: 
Old Testament 
Gen. 15:18-21, Ex. 19:3-6, Lv. 12:3, Lv. 18:24-30, Lv. 19:33-34, Dt. 4:5-8, Dt. 10:16, Jsh. 10:13-14, 1 Chr. 28:4-5, 1 Chr. 29:23, 2 Chr. 36:15-17, Ps. 39:12, Ps. 80:7-11, Ps. 89:3-4, Ps. 132:11-14, Is. 44:6, 1 Sm. 8:6-7 
New Testament 
Mt. 3:2, Mt. 4:17

Tim Miller

Covenant

<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li>Concept of “Kingdom” assumed from Hebrew Scriptures</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 3:2, ESV)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 4:17, ESV)
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li>Tonight we’ll be focusing on the Kingdom of Israel</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>

OT BACKGROUND

<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li>Rulers
<ol>
<li>Ultimate ruler: Yahweh</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. (Is. 44:6, NIV)
6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. (1 Sm. 8:6-7, NIV)
<ul>
<li>“…Israel was begun as a theocracy rather than a monarchy, the sort of vestments that conferred dignity and authority that a king might have worn in other cultures were worn by God’s high priest in Israel as a way of confirming the high priest’s role as representative of Yahweh for purposes of worship.”</li>
</ul>
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li>Delegated authorities: judges and then kings, and their “administrations”</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
4 “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me [David] from my whole family to be king over Israel forever (basis of authority; see below). He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5 Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. (1 Chr. 28:4-5, NIV)
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li>Subjects/citizens
<ol>
<li>Israelites</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
3 Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called  to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me (covenantal prologue).  5 Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant,  you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, 6 and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.’  These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” (Ex. 19:3-6, HCSB)
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li>Sojourner/resident foreigners</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
33 “When a foreigner (Heb. gēr – “stranger” [ESV, NASB], “alien” [LEB, NIV, NRSV]; “sojourner” [YLT]; LXX—prosēlutos) lives with you in your land, you must not oppress him. 34 You must regard the foreigner who lives with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt;  I am Yahweh your God. (Lv. 19:33-34, HCSB)
<ul>
<li>Rendtorff observes that the Pentateuchal laws about the sojourner “agree that he is a person who lives more or less permanently among the Israelites but does not become one of them” (Rendtorff, “Gēr in the Priestly Laws,” 85). As a non-Israelite, permanent resident, the sojourner “was permitted to participate in those actions that involved the active worship of Yahweh” (Miller, Religion, 201). These religious activities included: observance of the Sabbath (Exod 20:10; Deut 5:14), presentation of sacrifice (Lev 17:8; 22:18; Num 15:15–16), participation in festivals (Deut 16:11, 14), and celebration of Passover—if they were circumcised (Exod 12:48–49; de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 75). The sojourner is not understood as completely assimilated and remains an outsider—a non-Israelite. This is evident in the apparently vulnerable state of the sojourner in society. Deut 27:19 (ESV) declares, “Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ ” The sojourner is protected by Torah and yet is clearly vulnerable and distinguished as “other.”</li>
</ul>

WHO?

<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li>Authority (right and just claim) and power to rule</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
11 The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne— 12 if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” 13 For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: 14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it (Ps. 132:11-14, NIV)
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 4 ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ” (Ps. 89:3-4, NIV)

WHAT?

<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li>Beginning</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
7 Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. 8You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 10The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11It sent out its boughs to the Sea, its shoots as far as the River. (Ps. 80:7-11, NIV)
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li>End</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians…(2 Chr. 36:15-17, NIV)
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="3">
<li>David (the king himself!) a “sojourner”</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
12 “Hear my prayer, Lord, and listen to my cry for help; do not be silent at my tears. For I am a foreigner (Heb. gēr—“sojourner” [ESV]) residing with You, a temporary resident like all my fathers. (Ps. 39:12, HCSB)

WHEN?

<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li>Geographical boundaries</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” (Gen. 15:18-21, ESV)
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li>Headquarters</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
11 The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne— 12 if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” 13 For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: 14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it (Ps. 132:11-14, NIV)
23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of David his father. (1 Chr. 29:23, ESV)

WHERE?

5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? (Dt. 4:5-8, NIV)

WHY?

<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li>Means of establishment—God’s power (cf. Kingdom of Creation, Kingdom of Eden)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! (Josh. 10:13-14, NIV)
<ol start="0">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol start="2">
<li>Terms of inclusion (covenant)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (Lv. 12:3, ESV)
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. (Dt. 10:16, ESV)
24 “ ‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 “ ‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. 30 Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.’ ” (Lev. 18:24-30, NIV)

HOW?

The Kingdom of Israel was a government based in the land of Israel, the boundaries of which were sovereignly determined by God. The kingdom was set apart with a priestly calling, and was established through the Exodus event. It was founded by God, through the power of God and the judgments of God, as a type of the future kingdom of Israel under the Messiah. Under David it was headquartered from the city of Jerusalem on Mount Zion. It was governed and ruled by God, in partnership with the government of Israel, and ultimately with the Davidic dynasty in a position of delegated authority. It was made up of Israelites, whose inclusion was based on the covenant (circumcised in both heart and flesh), and non-Israelite sojourners. Obedience to the covenant was required for continued inclusion.

SUMMARY

<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li>It was during the era of David and Solomon that Israel came the closest to controlling the territory promised in Genesis 15. However, there was never a time when Israel possessed all of it (let alone Abraham himself (!); see Gen. 15:7-8). What does this imply, then, about Israel’s future?</li>
<li>Why do you think David described himself as a “sojourner,” even though he was the king of Israel? What does that tell us about his hope?</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

A People Prepared

Church

In this introduction to the series A People Prepared, we look at Jesus’ zeal for a pure Bride, as...

Jesus’ Zeal for a Pure Bride

In this session we examine some of the formative elements in John the Baptizer’s life, asking the...

Becoming Strong in Spirit

Christ/Cross

When prophesying about John the Baptizer, Zechariah, John’s father, declared that John in...

God’s Day, God’s Summons

Full Gospel

In this session, we examine and discuss the various features and components that make up any...

What Makes Up a Kingdom

Jake Paurus

Instagram

Forerunners in the Wilderness Teaching

Creation

In this session, we will examine the various elements that make up the “Kingdom of Creation.”...

Kingdom of Creation

In this session, we will examine the various elements that make up the “Kingdom of Eden.” What...

Kingdom of Eden Part 1

Curse

In this first of two sessions on the Kingdom of Darkness, we will examine some of the various...

Kingdom of Darkness Part 1

In this session we will continue examining the Kingdom of Darkness, focusing especially on Genesis...

Kingdom of Darkness Part 2

Kingdom of Darkness Part 3

In this week’s Emmaus Road Gathering, we will resume our discussion of the OT background and...

Kingdom of Israel

When John the Baptist and Jesus proclaimed that the “Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mt. 3:2, 4:14),...

Kingdom Promised

In this teaching, we step back into the New Testament and examine John the Baptist’s declaration...

The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand

In Matthew 11, John the Baptizer sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus,
“Are you the one who was...

Kingdom Coming

When the angel Gabriel met with Zechariah and foretold John the Baptizer’s birth, he said that...

Delighting in the Tenth Commandment

How is “love for God” defined according to the Scriptures? In this week’s Emmaus Road...

Love As Loyalty

In this week’s Emmaus Road Gathering, we will wrap up our series on the life, message, and...

Wisdom Vindicated

God’s Day, God’s Summons Q&A/Discussion

What Makes Up a Kingdom Q&A/Discussion

Kingdom of Eden Part 2 / Q&A

In this week’s Emmaus Road Gathering, we will resume our discussion of the OT background and framework presupposed by John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ declaration that the “Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mt. 3:2, 4:14), focusing our attention on the Kingdom of Israel: Its boundaries, headquarters, leadership, citizenry, means of establishment, etc. We invite you to join us as we ask Jesus to come and cause our hearts to “burn within us”(Lk. 24:32) as we search the Scriptures together.