"Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." - 1 Samuel 8:5Does this cry sound familiar? Have you ever heard a people cry out for a new king so they could look like all of the other nations? This was Israel's plight in Samuel the Prophet's day. It was not unlike the Israelites to turn away from their God and turn to their own desires. If you recall, they did this quite often.
While wandering through the wilderness for 40 years, they kept telling Moses and Aaron that they wanted to return to Egypt because they were tired of being out there. What is interesting about the story in Exodus is that while they were out wandering in the wilderness, God was ever providing for them. They had shoes that would not wear out. They had clothes that would not wear out. They had bread from heaven that did not run out. When they wanted something other than this bread from heaven they wanted meat. So what did God do? He provided quail for them.
In today's Church we find the same sense -- or might I say nonsense! We want more of this or more of that. We want to have our desires, our pleasures met. When we don't get our way, then we just want to do whatever comes to mind neverminding what it is that God desires.
As the story goes in 1 Samuel 8, the people were demanding a king. Samuel's sons were to take over the family business of judging Israel. Now understand, this was not a judgmental type of judging -- the kind that people today talk about -- the kind that puts down and tears down rather than encouraging and building up. They were to take care of judging Israel; in other words, they were supposed to keep Israel on the right track! The people were tired of Samuel's sons. His sons "turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice" (1 Samuel 8:3). Who wouldn't be tired of this? But they also thought that Samuel was too old to lead the nation (1 Samuel 8:1).
So the people cried out, Samuel was frustrated with his sons and with the people. But the Lord had a different plan (as He usually does; remember Isaiah 55:8-9). God told Samuel to let the people have what they want! Can you believe it?!? Really?!? Give them what they want?!? But in giving the people what they wanted God still lovingly told them what the ramifications of their desire would be (1 Samuel 8:9). It was not going to be a pretty sight. In fact, God was very plain spoken about what their king would do and how he would mistreat his people.
Now why would I go through all of this? It's because the people then are no different than we are today. It's like water: Water is water in 500 BC as water is in 2010 and human nature is to war against God! We want it our way and not His way. But how can we correct this? It is a matter of making the moral choice to give up our rights and to follow God...period! To surrender our rights is to give ourselves completely to Him; and, quite frankly, it is a day-to-day surrendering and even a moment-by-moment surrendering to Him.
Today, if you hear God's voice, do not harden your heart and turn to your own selfish desires or pleasures. Rather, turn to the Lord and acknowledge Him as your King.
