How did the judges and kings of Israel contribute to God's providence of restoration?
The judges and kings of Israel were instrumental in God's providence of restoration, forming the national foundation for the Messiah. The 400-year period of judges established the nation in Canaan, while the 120-year United Kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon aimed to restore earlier indemnity conditions, laying the groundwork for the Messiah's coming through their efforts to build a God-centered nation.
In God's providence of restoration, the judges and kings of Israel played crucial roles in laying the national foundation for the Messiah. The history of Israel from Abraham until Jesus constitutes the "Age of the Providence of Restoration," during which God worked to restore humanity to its original state. This age is characterized by specific periods, two of which directly involve judges and kings: the 400-year period of judges and the 120-year period of the United Kingdom.
The Period of the Judges
Following the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their entry into Canaan under Joshua, the nation entered a 400-year period ruled by judges. This 400-year period, ending around 1050 BC when Saul was made king, involved fifteen judges who filled the triple responsibilities of prophet, priest, and king. Figures like Othniel, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Eli, and Samuel guided the Israelites, leading them in battle, administering justice, and providing spiritual direction. This era was a time of establishing the nation in the promised land, frequently marked by cycles of disobedience, oppression by foreign powers, repentance, and deliverance through God-raised judges. Their leadership aimed to restore the nation spiritually and physically, laying a foundational structure for national governance centered on God's will. This 400-year period paralleled the 400 years from Noah to Abraham, serving to restore that earlier period through indemnity conditions. "And the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them." (Judges 2:16)
The Period of the United Kingdom
The subsequent 120-year period saw the establishment of a United Kingdom in Israel, with the reign of three successive kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. This period, from 1050 BC to 931 BC, served to restore, through indemnity, Moses' three attempts to lay the foundation of faith for the national course to restore Canaan, each of these attempts having been 40 years long. Each of these kings reigned for 40 years, totaling 120 years. King Saul, though initially chosen by God, ultimately failed due to disobedience (1 Samuel 15:23). King David, renowned as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), established Jerusalem as the capital and expanded the kingdom, setting a standard for righteous kingship. His reign brought stability and a strong religious center. King Solomon, David's son, built the First Temple in Jerusalem, solidifying the nation's spiritual identity. However, his later years were marked by foreign wives and idolatry, leading to the kingdom's division. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8)
The judges and kings contributed by laying the foundation for a nation centered on God, providing leadership and a framework for God's chosen people to prepare for the Messiah. Their efforts were crucial in establishing a national foundation, which was a necessary step in the providence of restoration, even when human failures led to prolongations of God's plan. They collectively worked to build a physical and spiritual environment where the Messiah could eventually be received. "Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19)
Why Judges and Kings Were Needed at All
The reason God worked through judges and then kings becomes clear once the purpose is stated: the Messiah was to be received by a nation, not merely by individuals, and a nation capable of receiving him needed all three of its central functions united in God — prophet, priest, and king. The judges held those roles together in a rough and temporary way, which is why the period was so unstable and why the book of Judges closes with the verdict, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). A foundation that depends on one gifted individual at a time cannot become the settled sovereignty in which a Messiah can be enthroned.
This is why the request for a king was both a failure and a step forward. The people asked for a king in order to be like the surrounding nations, and God told Samuel they had rejected him from reigning over them (1 Samuel 8:7); the motive was wrong. Yet a kingdom was in fact what the providence required, so God granted it and worked through it. The kings were meant to stand as visible sovereigns of a nation whose true king was God, holding the throne in trust until the one to whom it belonged should come. That is the sense of the promise to David that his throne would be established for ever (2 Samuel 7:16), and why the Messiah is called the son of David (Matthew 1:1).
What Followed From Their Success and Failure
Because the foundation depended on their faithfulness, everything hinged on whether the kings kept the throne centred on God. Saul lost it by disobedience in offering sacrifice and sparing what he was told to destroy (1 Samuel 15:22-23), David established it substantially, and Solomon built the temple but then divided his heart with foreign gods, so the kingdom itself divided (1 Kings 11:4-11). The consequence was not merely political decline: the national foundation for the Messiah collapsed, and the providence had to be extended through the prophets, the exile, and the four hundred years of preparation that followed Malachi, until a foundation could be rebuilt in time for Jesus.
The lesson embedded in this history is that God works through real institutions and real people, and that authority given by God is held on condition. A throne, an office, or a position of trust does not sanctify its holder; it multiplies the effect of their faithfulness or their failure across a whole nation.
Living the Principle
1. Embrace Leadership Responsibilities: Recognize that all positions of leadership, whether in family, community, or nation, carry a divine responsibility to guide others toward God's will, just as the judges and kings were called to lead Israel. 2. Learn from Historical Patterns: Understand that providential history follows patterns (like the 400-year and 120-year periods) and that failures can prolong God's plan, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling one's responsibility. 3. Strive for Righteous Governance: Seek to uphold justice, truth, and spiritual principles in all forms of governance, reflecting the ideal of a God-centered nation that the judges and kings were meant to establish. 4. Support God-Centered Leaders: Actively support and pray for leaders who strive to serve God's purpose, recognizing their crucial role in preparing the way for a world united under God.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
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Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.