The apostle Paul said it best, “I have learned to be content, whatever my circumstance. Well fed or hungry living in plenty or in want–I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:12-13. After several years of peace and blessing, Samuel became old and brought his sons in to help him Judge. They were evil. They took bribes and acted poorly. So the people of Israel approached Samuel and demanded to have a king–like everyone else! One can only imagine the emotion Samuel experienced. Anger, guilt, sadness all must have passed through his mind as he approached God with the news. Funny thing was, God was not surprised.
God told Samuel, “They are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Me.” It was true. The people of Israel, a truly free people, were being led by God. He led them out of Egypt, through the desert, into their promised inheritance and had protected them through thick and thin. All the Lord required was that they follow His lead. To do so, however, required that they submit to His lordship and not chase other gods. For Israel, that had always been a struggle, and especially difficult when things were going well. So now, while the nation was at peace and prosperous, they rejected God’s leadership. They wanted a King, hopefully a cool King. So God told Samuel not to fret, but to explain that they would be getting a lot more than what they were bargaining for–and none of it good. So, that is what Samuel did. Israel still wanted a king.
In our lives, we face the same struggle. God reaches out and gives us salvation. As we follow Him, He protects us, provides for us, and prepares us for an abundant, and purposeful life here, and eternity with Him after. Still, when things are peaceful and our tummies are full–we want more. We want what everyone else has. We want a cool king! It makes God sad–but not surprised, you see He has been dealing with it since the garden. We have to evaluate what the cool kings are in our lives, and lay them on the alter before God. If we submit to the Lord’s leadership, rather than the leadership of the cool kings, (Money, beauty, power, stuff), then He will lead, bless and guide us to the life we really want–a life of peace and no worry. We will also see that God is truly the COOLEST king of all.
God Bless You
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribesand perverted justice.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[b] us, such as all the other nations have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
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