People are notoriously difficult to please. Give someone what they want, and they can still end up dissatisfied. Whilst it is true some are easier to please than others, we all tend to be upset when our expectations are not met. When we don't receive what we expect - be it service or quality we believe we have paid for - it leads to ungrateful, bitter attitudes.
The children of Israel provide an example of this after they demanded Samuel anoint them a king to rule over them like the other nations. 1 Samuel 10:24-27 reads, "And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?" So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!" 25 Then Samuel explained to the people the behaviour of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some rebels said, "How can this man save us?" So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace." After it was revealed Saul of the tribe of Benjamin was chosen, a man who stood a head taller than all others, not everyone was pleased. They were granted their wish of having a king, but they weren't pleased with the king God had given them. Maybe they had hoped to be king (or at least a man from their tribe) and were a bit sour about it! This shows the desire for a king was not so much about God's selection of king but a symptom of hearts which had departed from trusting God.
The LORD graciously touched the hearts of valiant men to accompany their king, who served and honoured him. King Saul was pleased to have valiant men who respected and offered themselves to help him. Wicked men spoke against the king and questioned his ability to save them. This brings us back to the reason the people asked for a king: they wanted someone to fight for them, to lead them in and out of battle. These men wanted a saviour; they were not interested to serve a ruler. This perspective relates well to our day. I would say most people are happy to be saved, glad to go to heaven if it exists, interested to be blessed, but are skeptical to lay down their lives to serve Jesus Christ. They are fine with a Saviour but are not interested to sacrifice themselves in obedience to Him.
The rebels refused to give Saul gifts, yet Saul held his peace. Later in his reign he would have taken severe and immediate action! Jesus is the King of Kings and He holds His peace, patiently and graciously waiting for people to repent of their sins and follow Him as Saviour and LORD. A day will come when Jesus will take vengeance on His enemies, but those whose hearts have been touched and transformed to follow Him will be preserved and protected. Some wonder how Jesus can save sinners, but He has proved His love and power through His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. As He rose from the dead so we will be raised with Him and enter into the joy of the LORD. Let us give Him the gift of our faithful service, for He is the valiant one. In all who love the Son the Father is well-pleased.
The children of Israel provide an example of this after they demanded Samuel anoint them a king to rule over them like the other nations. 1 Samuel 10:24-27 reads, "And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?" So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!" 25 Then Samuel explained to the people the behaviour of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some rebels said, "How can this man save us?" So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace." After it was revealed Saul of the tribe of Benjamin was chosen, a man who stood a head taller than all others, not everyone was pleased. They were granted their wish of having a king, but they weren't pleased with the king God had given them. Maybe they had hoped to be king (or at least a man from their tribe) and were a bit sour about it! This shows the desire for a king was not so much about God's selection of king but a symptom of hearts which had departed from trusting God.
The LORD graciously touched the hearts of valiant men to accompany their king, who served and honoured him. King Saul was pleased to have valiant men who respected and offered themselves to help him. Wicked men spoke against the king and questioned his ability to save them. This brings us back to the reason the people asked for a king: they wanted someone to fight for them, to lead them in and out of battle. These men wanted a saviour; they were not interested to serve a ruler. This perspective relates well to our day. I would say most people are happy to be saved, glad to go to heaven if it exists, interested to be blessed, but are skeptical to lay down their lives to serve Jesus Christ. They are fine with a Saviour but are not interested to sacrifice themselves in obedience to Him.
The rebels refused to give Saul gifts, yet Saul held his peace. Later in his reign he would have taken severe and immediate action! Jesus is the King of Kings and He holds His peace, patiently and graciously waiting for people to repent of their sins and follow Him as Saviour and LORD. A day will come when Jesus will take vengeance on His enemies, but those whose hearts have been touched and transformed to follow Him will be preserved and protected. Some wonder how Jesus can save sinners, but He has proved His love and power through His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. As He rose from the dead so we will be raised with Him and enter into the joy of the LORD. Let us give Him the gift of our faithful service, for He is the valiant one. In all who love the Son the Father is well-pleased.
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