It should be a sobering truth: God gives people what they ask for. Our gracious God loves and gives. Despite this, the tendency of men is to look to other men for help, guidance, and provision in this life. If man does not see God performing as he likes, he is glad to swap to new leadership. At a time where many in the United States are voting for their preferred party or presidential candidates, concerns are mounting. From what I see from afar in Australia, there seems to be no presidential candidate on offer who can span the chasm which currently separates parties and people, wealthy and poor, businesses and individuals. A nation which in the past championed itself as "one nation under God" is as fractured, angry, disillusioned, apathetic, and without hope as I have ever seen. When we look to men, women, a political party, or even the "power of the people" to save us, it is only a matter of time before we realise we have already lost.
After God brought His beloved people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and established them in the Promised Land, it was only a matter of time before He was deemed an unfit ruler by the masses. The men of Israel demanded, "We want a king to rule over us like the other nations." For a long time people had looked to Samuel the prophet and judge as God's mouthpiece, and it was clear to them his sons were not cut from the same righteous cloth. They were wicked, accepted bribes, and perverted judgment. Samuel was angry with the request of the people for a king, but brought their demand before God in prayer. Some might assume God would also be angry and destroy all who opposed and criticised His rule, but He did no such thing. 1 Samuel 8:7-9 reads, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day--with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them." God told Samuel not to take personally the rejection of God's rule, for it was not Samuel who had been rejected. This followed a clear pattern of behaviour consistent with God's people from the beginning. Yet God would not give the people their desire before they had first been carefully warned about what to expect from their future king.
God provided specific details about what to expect from their new king and his governance, a stark contrast to God's divine rule. God had given, but this king would take and take. Ironically, Saul spoke more about what he would give - fields, vineyards, and position - than what he would take! (1 Samuel 22:7) Consider the warning given the people in 1 Samuel 8:11-18: "And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day." That last line should send a shiver through the most hearty soul. It was their choice to have a king to rule, but they had no idea how much it would cost them. Their foolish choice to reject God would silence their complaints to God and they would remain oppressed by the king they desired. God is gracious and good to provide government which He has been established to punish evildoers and to reward those who do well (1 Peter 2:13-14). Because men are to be governed by God and Christians have agreed to God as their King, we are called to submit to governors as an extension of His rule.
As much as people in a democratic process want to believe they hold the key to power, remember it is God who lifts up kings and deposes them (Daniel 2:21). Though men and women run for public office, God maintains sovereignty over all nations. God spoke in Jeremiah 18:7-10, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." The dearth of candidates in recent elections does not surprise me, for the people have spoken and God has listened. If people are intent to cast off His rule, His righteous judgments, and deny His authority, we are free to appoint those we choose. Many times God judged his people by their godless rulers, and God's ways have not changed. Hearken unto God, the One who tells us what manner of rulers we choose for ourselves. King Saul began in humility and the fear of the LORD, but finished his course as a madman who consulted witches for guidance. He died in battle, but not by the hand of the enemy: in a wounded panic he fell on his own sword. So it will be for all who refuse to submit to God's rule and look unto men for hope and help. Such will be pierced through with many sorrows. Without God no nation is able to stand. The warning of Samuel is relevant today for those who place their trust in men: do not expect deliverance from God in heaven until there is first contrition and repentance. God is our only hope, and in God the wise trust.
After God brought His beloved people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and established them in the Promised Land, it was only a matter of time before He was deemed an unfit ruler by the masses. The men of Israel demanded, "We want a king to rule over us like the other nations." For a long time people had looked to Samuel the prophet and judge as God's mouthpiece, and it was clear to them his sons were not cut from the same righteous cloth. They were wicked, accepted bribes, and perverted judgment. Samuel was angry with the request of the people for a king, but brought their demand before God in prayer. Some might assume God would also be angry and destroy all who opposed and criticised His rule, but He did no such thing. 1 Samuel 8:7-9 reads, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day--with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them." God told Samuel not to take personally the rejection of God's rule, for it was not Samuel who had been rejected. This followed a clear pattern of behaviour consistent with God's people from the beginning. Yet God would not give the people their desire before they had first been carefully warned about what to expect from their future king.
God provided specific details about what to expect from their new king and his governance, a stark contrast to God's divine rule. God had given, but this king would take and take. Ironically, Saul spoke more about what he would give - fields, vineyards, and position - than what he would take! (1 Samuel 22:7) Consider the warning given the people in 1 Samuel 8:11-18: "And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day." That last line should send a shiver through the most hearty soul. It was their choice to have a king to rule, but they had no idea how much it would cost them. Their foolish choice to reject God would silence their complaints to God and they would remain oppressed by the king they desired. God is gracious and good to provide government which He has been established to punish evildoers and to reward those who do well (1 Peter 2:13-14). Because men are to be governed by God and Christians have agreed to God as their King, we are called to submit to governors as an extension of His rule.
As much as people in a democratic process want to believe they hold the key to power, remember it is God who lifts up kings and deposes them (Daniel 2:21). Though men and women run for public office, God maintains sovereignty over all nations. God spoke in Jeremiah 18:7-10, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." The dearth of candidates in recent elections does not surprise me, for the people have spoken and God has listened. If people are intent to cast off His rule, His righteous judgments, and deny His authority, we are free to appoint those we choose. Many times God judged his people by their godless rulers, and God's ways have not changed. Hearken unto God, the One who tells us what manner of rulers we choose for ourselves. King Saul began in humility and the fear of the LORD, but finished his course as a madman who consulted witches for guidance. He died in battle, but not by the hand of the enemy: in a wounded panic he fell on his own sword. So it will be for all who refuse to submit to God's rule and look unto men for hope and help. Such will be pierced through with many sorrows. Without God no nation is able to stand. The warning of Samuel is relevant today for those who place their trust in men: do not expect deliverance from God in heaven until there is first contrition and repentance. God is our only hope, and in God the wise trust.
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