Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. (1 Sam. 8:4-9)
Israel not only wanted a king because the other nations had a king but because they wanted a ruler and judge they could ‘choose’ instead of the judges God sent to them. Samuel was distressed by their choice but God knew that they were rejecting Him by desiring a man to have rule over them instead of God. The people of Israel had been continuously rebelling against the Words and ways of God since He brought them out of Egypt with His mighty hand. Their sinful hearts strayed after other gods which are no gods and Samuel instructed them in what they were asking for and what they would get in seeking a king after their own flesh instead of following the LORD God.
Rejecting God, the people wanted a human king to rule over them. The failure of the sons of Eli and Samuel to walk in the ways of the LORD may have been a contributing factor in the desire of the people of Israel to have a king like all the other nations. But in the end, as God told Samuel, it was Israel rejecting God and the judges which God sent to deliver them out of their cycles of rebellion and oppression which had been going on since Joshua. Israel constantly turned away from God in complacency, outright rebellion, or religious apathy, and forgot the LORD their God. The king which they would have over them would be just like them, and often worse, and their condition would not improve. The history of the kings of Israel and Judah proved Samuel’s words to be prophetic and they should have been a warning that Israel would get all they wished for and more, but the people sadly did not hear and sought a king.
It should not matter who holds particular offices or who runs a particular company, for the Christian, we are to serve the Lord and do all as unto Him. He is our King and rules and reigns in the hearts of those who follow Him. We are told to die to self, our own fleshly desires and wants, and seek His will, take up our cross, and walk in His ways. His burdens are not grievous unto us and His ways, though not our ways, are not the ways of death but of life and peace, filled with His Spirit and instructed by His Word. While we do submit to the authorities placed over us that are not in conflict with God, we don’t look to earthly kings or leaders for our moral compass, our direction in spiritual matters, or our walk by faith, for men will fail us, but God cannot leave us nor forsake us, and He will never fail. Our faith is in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, and we trust God for our deliverance from sin, our reconciliation with the Father, the intercession of the Son, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit through His Word. Just as He delivered Israel, not because of their continued rebellion, but because of His love for them and His plan of redemption, He will deliver whosoever will come to Him on His terms and be born again. We ought not to reject God as Israel did, but submit and surrender in repentance and faith to Him who is our God; our Creator, Redeemer, and King.
God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Rejecting God, the people wanted a human king to rule over them. The failure of the sons of Eli and Samuel to walk in the ways of the LORD may have been a contributing factor in the desire of the people of Israel to have a king like all the other nations. But in the end, as God told Samuel, it was Israel rejecting God and the judges which God sent to deliver them out of their cycles of rebellion and oppression which had been going on since Joshua. Israel constantly turned away from God in complacency, outright rebellion, or religious apathy, and forgot the LORD their God. The king which they would have over them would be just like them, and often worse, and their condition would not improve. The history of the kings of Israel and Judah proved Samuel’s words to be prophetic and they should have been a warning that Israel would get all they wished for and more, but the people sadly did not hear and sought a king.
It should not matter who holds particular offices or who runs a particular company, for the Christian, we are to serve the Lord and do all as unto Him. He is our King and rules and reigns in the hearts of those who follow Him. We are told to die to self, our own fleshly desires and wants, and seek His will, take up our cross, and walk in His ways. His burdens are not grievous unto us and His ways, though not our ways, are not the ways of death but of life and peace, filled with His Spirit and instructed by His Word. While we do submit to the authorities placed over us that are not in conflict with God, we don’t look to earthly kings or leaders for our moral compass, our direction in spiritual matters, or our walk by faith, for men will fail us, but God cannot leave us nor forsake us, and He will never fail. Our faith is in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, and we trust God for our deliverance from sin, our reconciliation with the Father, the intercession of the Son, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit through His Word. Just as He delivered Israel, not because of their continued rebellion, but because of His love for them and His plan of redemption, He will deliver whosoever will come to Him on His terms and be born again. We ought not to reject God as Israel did, but submit and surrender in repentance and faith to Him who is our God; our Creator, Redeemer, and King.
God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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