The Concept of the United Kingdom
Meaning
The twelve tribes of Israel, Ephraim (symbolized as a bull), Gad (symbolized as a tent), Dan (symbolized as a serpent), Reuben (symbolized as a thistle), Judah (symbolized as a lion), Simeon (symbolized as a gate), Manasseh (symbolized as a tree), Issachar (symbolized as a burden bearer), Zebulun (symbolized as a ship), Benjamin (symbolized as a fox), Naphtali (symbolized as a mountain goat) and Asher (symbolized as a grain stalk), were united under the first three kings of Israel. These kings were Saul the first king of Israel. David, the second king of Israel and Solomon the third king of Israel and the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon was the second son of David and Bathesheba. David and Bathesheba’s first born son died as a result of David’s sin.
Because the nation of Israel were God’s chosen people, the idea persisted that all kings of Israel were established by divine commission, rather than by blood succession. Unlike the gentile nations, Israel was to let God choose their king, as the Lord searches the hearts of men. The first king of Israel, King Saul met with violent opposition because he turned his heart away from the Lord. The second king of Israel, King David, whose reign represented the great golden age in Israel’s history, was accompanied by four major events. These events included, Jerusalem made the political capital of the new state. Jerusalem also became the ecclesiastical capital with the Tabernacle and later the Temple. In addition, during David’s reign the Philistine menace was destroyed along with other national enemies. However, the last event of his reign, brought disunity into the United Kingdom as a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba.
David’s reign was followed by the reign of his son Solomon, who was also appointed by God. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. At the beginning of His reign Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom to govern God’s people Israel. Because Solomon did not ask for power or wealth, the Lord gave Solomon both wisdom and wealth. However, Solomon’s expansionist policies led to a heavy tax load which incited rebellion in the United Kingdom, during the reign of his son Rehoboam. Solomon near the end of his life, because of his many pagan wives had turned his heart away from the Lord. It was the Lord who gave Solomon his wisdom and wealth. As a result God took the kingdom away from Solomon during the reign of his son, Rehoboam. For David’s sake the Lord did not take the kingdom away during Solomon’s reign.
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.'” (1st Samuel 8:4-7)
“Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, ‘Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to me.’ And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, ‘There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.'” (1st Samuel 9:15-17)
“Now the Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all the young men here?’ Then he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.’ So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is the one’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.” (1st Samuel 16:7,11-13)