A Nation Turns Away

Scripture: They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods. Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them. 1 Samuel 8:8-9

Observation: The Israelites have asked to have a 'king' named over their country. Samuel at first rejects the idea, but Yahweh tells him to proceed, but to warn them. The warning Samuel gives is accurate as to what a king can - and will - do. He will take men and put them in harm's way and to hard labor based on his needs, not their desires. He will take women and make them house servants, working however he wants and separated from their families. He will impose taxes and take their food and flocks. He will seize their personal lands as his own for no reason other than they are very good and thus should be his, not theirs. He will make their lives much harder, and they will feel the pain and regret it.

And they respond, 'yes that's exactly what we want!'

The Lord is of course right that this action is not a rejection of existing leaders, but rather a rejection of him. They no longer keep the Lord in their hearts, but worship other gods and follow other instructions. They actively state a desire to be just like other nations, despite the fact the Lord has made them a special nation unto himself. Because they have turned from God, they now want to turn to some earthly leader, even if everything that leader does is either a) something the Lord does through him and would have done without him if they asked, or b) something harmful.

Application: One of the reasons I reject all 'political' conversations and arguments in our country is that everyone else is SO invested and committed to the fights. It really doesn't matter what side of a debate anyone is on ... the fact we're fighting over the issues is tearing apart not just our country, but much of the world. Everyone picks a side, aligns to a leader, and places their 'faith' in the idea that that person, that party, and that set of policies will make their lives better.

It won't.

All of this makes everyone's lives worse in a real and obvious way daily. More than that, our lives are so very, very much worse than they would be if the Lord were our king, and the one whose words we obeyed, whose ways we practiced, and whose example we followed.

Our ways are flawed so we would fail to follow the Lord well, just like Israel did. However, if only the Lord were our true king, we would be so much better than we are with the political mess we have today.

Prayer: Lord, at one time we declared our nation was 'under God'. We have even been attacked and hated by other people-groups because we were a Christian nation. Well, I don't think we are anymore, and I know we don't follow you as a nation anymore. I pray that some of our leaders do, and that your influence can still bring about good outcomes. May revival come, and may we return to you. Amen.