ICG: Israeli Politics
Jerusalem
Last night, ICG’s Mark Armstrong wrote:
… the coalition government in Israel has collapsed, and elections are in the offing. According to the most recent estimates carried by the Jerusalem Post, Benjamin Netanyahu is projected to have more than adequate support to become Israel’s next Prime Minister. And he is probably Israel’s most hawkish politician when it comes to national defense, and the need to deal aggressively with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Of course, political problems are not new. In his latest commentary, LCG’s Davy Crockett wrote:
Solomon, son of King David of Israel wrote, probably about 935bc, “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been in ancient times before us” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).
Political turmoil is not new, and will not subside in this age. In fact, it may even get worse with increasing partisanship and nationalism. As people around the world seek refuge in the familiar, many will return to their traditional religions and to an attitude of tribalism. None of these trends seem to offer any real hope for a lessening of stress or any sense of security and stability, which most people desire more than anything.
(Click here to read the complete commentary.)
Notice the following related news item:
Speaking today on Israel National Radio, Solomon said that problems and divisions within Israel today and the threats it faces from outside to its security could be interpreted as the conditions that precede the appointment of a king.
“We need a unified leadership, we’ve got anti-Semitic regimes on our doorstep that want to wipe us out, we have fractures within the population,” said Solomon.
Drawing a parallel between the current “disastrous absence of genuine political and spiritual and religious leadership” in Israel today and the period leading up to the anointing of Israel’s first king, Saul, he said that many people might view a theocratic monarchy as an answer to Israel’s troubles today as it was then.
Discussing the period of the early chapters of the book of Samuel, dated historically at around 1100 BCE, Solomon said that the situation at that time saw a crisis of political and religious leadership based upon corruption, exploitation and the abuse of power. It was as a result of this that the people of Israel turned to the prophet Samuel seeking a different model of leadership, asking instead for a king.
But Solomon cautioned against people being too hasty about appointing a king in Israel today. “Every generation that is thinking of adopting a new model of leadership needs to be extremely careful,” he said. “Kings can be good but kings can also be very bad.”
According to Solomon, Jewish History shows that the decision to appoint a king is fraught with problems. While Israel can boast figures like King David and King Hezekiah, it has many more examples of bad kings.
“If we had the power to set up a king now, we would have to be extremely careful,” he said…
He said the cautionary lesson from the book of Samuel is that people tend to get the king they deserve.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/128171
While there probably will not be a king of Judah in the nation of Israel, there actually are two practical reasons for having one:
- Israeli politics has been fragmented by a multi-party system resulting in unusual coalition governments for many years. A king would not have to compromise as much with political leaders that he would not agree with as much as Israeli prime ministers often have had to do.
- The fact is that if Israel remains a democracy with its declining birth rates means that eventually non-Jews will become the majority there and Israel as we have known it the past several decades will cease to exist (a related news item would be Why Europe Can’t Survive As Is). However, if Israel had a king, this would mean that democracy would not affect the top leadership of the country.
Political movements in Israel, the USA, Europe, and elsewhere lately point to changes in the world scene.
As Jesus taught,
And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:37)
Two articles of possibly related interest may include:
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
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