““When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.”
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Deuteronomy‬ ‭17‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A king is the highest human authority in the land. In this way, they are representation of God. They reflect his sovereignty and his agency amongst the nation he commands. One might be forgiven for thinking that this power is also, like God’s, a matter of self governance. But this could not be further from the truth. The king is simply another human. Their station may be different, but they have the same ontology as any other human. The burden they carry affords them more grace, but it doesn’t make them less sinful. In fact, the opportunity for sin amongst them is greater, as is the temptation. In truth, the greatest authority in the land is God and this authority is kept trued by his accountability to the scriptures. This is why each king was to create his own personal copy of the scriptures. This was made by him and verified by the priests. It was a way to internalize the true rule of law and to make the king culpable for administering it. He would have no excuse of being unaware of it. This is a practice that would be utterly useful for today. All leaders should be aware that their leadership is an extension of God’s and not something that they are entitled to or that comes from themselves.

King’s Authority: The king, as the highest human authority, represents God’s sovereignty and agency but is still a human subject to sin and temptation.

God’s Ultimate Authority: God holds the greatest authority, ensuring accountability through scriptures, a practice that should be emulated by modern leaders.

Scripture’s Importance: Each king was required to create a personal copy of the scriptures, internalizing the rule of law and emphasizing their accountability.