I love the Old Testament and the examples therein. For every Paul, there is a Balaam; for every Abraham there is an Ananias; for every David there is a Samson; for every Jezebel there is a Deborah. For every act of Judgment there is an act of Grace and Mercy, for every faith filled moment there is a faith less moment,. God is wonderful in showing how to and how not to. He shows the Good (Josiah), the bad (Herod) and the truly degenerate (Ahab).
He is being petitioned by the people of Israel for a king. Samuel that great prophet had just set up his sons to judge Israel but they are not him, and they do not do things his way or God's way and the people want a king.
He has let the children of Israel decide their fate, even when He knows that it is going to end horribly.
Samuel talks to God and God says the following:
1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
The children of Israel have asked for a man to rule over them rather than a mighty Awesome God. Most of us find that reprehensible, why would they do that when God has done so much for them? They are human as are we and we all do stupid things for stupid reasons.
Samuel is upset the people are not liking his carefully laid plans, but God tells him "it isn't you Samuel it's me". God tells him it is a pattern from the Exodus until now and it is now time to let them have what they are asking for.
Yet He gives them one more chance, one more warning, as always. ! Sam 8:10 - 18 gives you the full warning God had Samuel give them and yet the people say:
1Sa 8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
1Sa 8:20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
How often have we heard this? God's rule, God's Law is too tough, I want to live like everyone else. That is what Israel is saying. The God who literally escorted them out of Israel, miraculously fed them manna and quail, provided water from a rock twice is being tossed aside. The God who went before them in battle, the God who blessed them and gave them canaan is being rejected.
How often do we today look at these examples and not take them to heart? How often do we neglect the WHOLE Bible for it is old and outdated? How often do we skip the Old Testament for we are under the age of Grace?
Yet those who do not learn from His story is bound to repeat it.
God is rejected, God's man rejected by Israel, and they are about to pay a heavy price.
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