But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
The warning is that if wrongdoing is still persisted in, both the nation and its king will be swept away in destruction and consumed together. It was spoken after the demand for a human king, which was a rejection of divine rule, yet the request was permitted and the people were not abandoned. Even with a king granted, the condition of national life remained obedience to God.
What was required instead of rebellion was to fear the Lord, to obey His voice, to turn from rebellion, and to serve Him faithfully and truly with all the heart. That service included remembering and considering the great things done for them. The door was still open to repent, to turn back to the Lord and follow Him, with assurance that He would not forsake them if they did so. Their future hung on that choice, depending entirely on whether they obeyed.
Possession of a king offered no shelter from disobedience, for rank and government could not shield either people or ruler from its result. Mercy and the offer of return did not cancel consequence, so that continuing in sin would still bring destruction on both.
The warning is that if wrongdoing is still persisted in, both the nation and its king will be swept away in destruction and consumed together. It was spoken after the demand for a human king, which was a rejection of divine rule, yet the request was permitted and the people were not abandoned. Even with a king granted, the condition of national life remained obedience to God.
What was required instead of rebellion was to fear the Lord, to obey His voice, to turn from rebellion, and to serve Him faithfully and truly with all the heart. That service included remembering and considering the great things done for them. The door was still open to repent, to turn back to the Lord and follow Him, with assurance that He would not forsake them if they did so. Their future hung on that choice, depending entirely on whether they obeyed.
Possession of a king offered no shelter from disobedience, for rank and government could not shield either people or ruler from its result. Mercy and the offer of return did not cancel consequence, so that continuing in sin would still bring destruction on both.