This was the cry of the Israelites in 1 Samuel 8:19-20. They wanted to be "like the other nations," they wanted someone to judge them, and someone to fight their battles for them. They wanted an earthly King.
"19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."
Lets take a look at what the the Bible has to say about these desires.
1. The People say: "We want a King! We want to be like other nations."
God says: "I AM your KING!"
God's Explanation: I am the great I AM and the God of your fathers.
"13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:13-14
People's Rejection: We do not want to follow the ways of our fathers.
God's Explanation: If the people would follow My ways, other nations would FEAR them and their God because of their power and prosperity.
"9The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee." Deuteronomy 28:9-10
People's Rejection: We do not want to obey His laws and follow His ways.
God's Explanation: I AM merciful. Trusted. Deliverer. Help.
"12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 16There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name."
People's Rejection: We do not want to rely on your deliverance; we want to rely on earthly things.
2. The People say: "We want a King! We want someone to judge us."
God says: "I AM your KING!"
God's Explanation: "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?"
"25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25
People's Rejection: Wish to have the ability to, "slay the righteous with the wicked."
God's explanation: I judge the righteous and am angry with the wicked!
"11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day."Psalm 7:11
People's Rejection: We don't want to be judged by your righteous standards; we want to be allowed to do wickedness.
3. The People say: "We want a King! We want someone to Fight our Battles"
God says: "I AM your KING!"
God's Explanation: I, the Lord, will fight for you!
"30The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; 31And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place." Deuteronomy 1:30-31
People's Rejection: We want someone who would fight our own (wicked) skirmishes, and not simply for His plan of divine justice
God's Explanation: AGAIN (do you people ever listen?), I will fight for you.
"14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." Exodus 14:14
People's Rejection: We don't want to hold our peace!
Thanks so much to the Swordstudy for helping me with these summer posts!
Are you living your life with the Lord ruling your life? or are you like the Israelites, seeking worldly things for help?
#swordstudy #ruth #thegreatIAM #Biblesummerstudy #dancinginHisreign
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