Anchored Before the Storm

Anchored Before the Storm

Long before Israel ever asked for a king, God had already spoken about what would keep that king from drifting. In Deuteronomy 17, the Lord says that when the king sits on the throne, the very first thing he must do is write out a copy of the Word for himself. He didn’t say, “Have a scribe do it.” No, the king’s own hand had to touch the ink. Because before God ever entrusts a person with authority, He anchors them in truth. God knew storms would come, so He provided the anchor ahead of time.

King David wasn’t perfect, but he was anchored. He didn’t lead from the pride of a throne; he led from the humility of a man who knew the Word and submitted to it. This is how you stay steady when authority increases. You keep the Word closer than the crown. 

The Word is what keeps greatness from turning into arrogance. You’re not just reading Scripture; Scripture is reading you, shaping you into a king who rules with righteousness. The Word forms the kind of leader God can trust. 

God says the result of this anchoring is that the king will learn to fear the Lord and walk in obedience. That’s the kind of fear that produces wisdom. The Word steadies you when pressure hits, when opinions grow loud, and when responsibility feels heavy. Without the Word, leaders drift. Families drift. Nations drift. But when God’s Word is close, drift is interrupted and the anchor holds.