2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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THE PEOPLE PERSISTED IN WANTING A KING
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
1 Samuel 8
Matthew 8:23-27
“What manner of man is this,
that even the winds and
the sea obey him!”
THE PEOPLE PERSISTED IN WANTING A KING
The king that Israel was asking for would not improve their welfare. The description, in short, showed that the king they wanted would be a dictator who would oppress the people and not protect their rights.
He would make their young men riders of his chariots and horsemen and some would run before his chariots. Some would be appointed commanders of the king’s army and some labourers in the king’s fields. They would be smiths to make his instruments of war. Their daughters would be confectionaries, cooks and bakers. He would also take their fields for himself. Samuel fell short of telling them that the king they were asking for would make slaves of them. Thus, instead of prestige and pride that they expected from having a king, they would be in bondage. He gave them a picture of what life would be like under a king who would not be a spiritual leader like Samuel or Moses was. He warned them that they would regret their resolve to have a king. But they had already made up their mind.
They refused to obey the voice of Samuel. They were determined in wanting a king. No words could change them; they had resolved with finality that they wanted a king. In effect, they rejected God’s voice. Samuel heard them and told this to the Lord. The Lord told Samuel to hearken to their voice and set a king for them. The spirit of dissatisfaction and complaint was common to Israel from the time that they came out of Egypt. They needed repentance and transformation in order that they might submit in obedience to the Lord.
The new generation needs to follow the old in righteousness. God must always lead and be obeyed. This is how blessings would come.
THOUGHT: Anything that the Lord does not approve of will become a disaster.
PRAYER: Father, teach me to know that obedience is the beginning of good things.