June 15, 2018 Friday

“4 ¶  Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5  and said to him, “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.” 6  But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7  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.” 10  So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 11  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.” (1Samuel 8:4-11 NKJV)

            When we serve God it is easy to take angry and hurting people and situations personally. It is easy to see, or think people rejecting us and our ministry. We then think we can treat them as we believe they have treated us. In some ways this is even harder on families when they see someone they love being treated badly.

            God comforts Samuel’s heart by declaring they are not rejecting him. After many years of serving God, and serving the people of Israel Samuel needed to know his ministry and life were not rejected!

            What is really sadder than the people of Israel rejecting Samuel was they really were rejecting God and His rule. The God who had brought them out of Egypt, the God who had provided for them and given them a new land. They did not want to be under the rule of God which can be seen by their following other gods.

            Even before rejecting God by calling for a king they had rejected God by serving the local gods whom God had warned them would destroy them. God would see this not only as a rejection but also as adultery as they left the God they had sworn to serve.

            Israel chose the seen gods and kings they could look to save them rather than the unseen God who had already saved them! 

            What are the idols and gods of today?  Do you spend more time with them then with God?  Are you angry with God and take it out on those who serve God?