1 Samuel 8:1-22


We all have a tendency to want to “belong” or be like those who are around us.  In this case the nation of Israel wants to be like the other nations and have a King instead of a Judge that had been appointed and established by God.  This was a direct rejection of what God had established as His form of leadership for the nation of Israel, but He permitted it as it apparently was part of His plan for the future, the problem was that the people were asking for a king before the Lord desired to establish a king in Israel.  It is a dangerous thing to run ahead of God.  However, there are several factors that contributed to this failure on their part.

UNFAITHFULNESS OF THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP: A big part of the problem was the nation’s dissatisfaction with the new leadership that Samuel tried to establish in his sons.  Samuel had not raised them properly and they did not have the same character that he had demonstrated.  They took advantage of their position and accepted bribes.  They were not as perverse as Eli’s sons, but they were not following in the steps of their father and they did not have the same fear of the Lord.  Weak leadership is a very dangerous thing and has grave consequences.  Samuel was a man of God but apparently failed as a father and then did not recognize his failing and tried to put his sons in a place of leadership for which they were spiritually unqualified.  Leaders must recognize that their first responsibility is to be faithful to lead in their own home and not become so involved in ministry that they fail to disciple their own children.

UNWILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO GOD’S WARNINGS: God was displeased with Israel’s request because He wanted to be King in Israel.  The Lord told Samuel as much and had Samuel warn the people of how the king would be and the price that they would have to pay not only financially, but sacrificing members of their own households to the whims of a human king.  No matter how much Samuel warned the people, they still insisted on having a king.  It is sad when God warns us so faithfully but we refuse to listen and continue to follow our own way.  Things will go much better in our lives if we listen to the Lord and heed His warnings.  He is always right and desires what is best for us.  There are dreadful consequences to ignoring the warnings of the Lord.

UNRIGHTEOUS DESIRE TO BE LIKE OTHER NATIONS: The biggest problem here is in the heart of the nation of Israel that simply wants to be like the other nations.  They must have thought that this would give them the respect that they needed to be recognized as a nation.  But God does not want for His people to be like the rest of the world.  He wants us to be different.  He calls us to a life of godliness and separation so that we can walk with Him, serve Him and obey Him along every step of the path on which He is leading us.  That path rarely is similar to that of the world which surrounds us.  We may feel more comfortable “fitting in” with the world, but God does not call us to a life of comfort, He calls us to a life of holiness.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 1:3-7

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not   to teach any different doctrine,   nor   to devote themselves to myths and endless   genealogies, which promote   speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.    The aim of our charge is love   that issues from a pure heart and   a good conscience and   a sincere faith.    Certain persons, by   swerving from these, have wandered away into   vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law,   without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.   There will always be false teachers that come into the church attempting to distract people from the truth and destroy people’s faith.  When this happens, it is the job of spiritually mature leaders to confront these false teachers and correct their teachings.  However, it is important that this correction be accomplished with the right motives and methods. 
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more