Let us look at a different topic today. This is about the consequences that led the people of Israel to ask for a worldy King. We know that the people of Israel were under the direct rule of God. The judges appointed by God were their first point of contact for settling disputes.
In 1 Samuel, we read that Samuel was appointed by God to be their judge. Samuel was a man who loved and revered God. He was a hard working man, and he always thought about the well being of the people of Israel. We read in 1 Samuel Chapter 6,that when Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as leaders, but they were not good. They went after bribes and other illegal ways of earning money.
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. 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 bribes and perverted justice.
The children of Godly leaders too fail, what an eyeopener for us!. This is the first reason that the people of Israel wanted a king. They were not ready to trust the children of Samuel. When we lose our trust and integrity, we will be disliked and replaced.
This was the time that Israel as a nation was under severe threat of a war. People thought that only if the have a king, they can be secure. They went and told Samuel about their concern. Samuel was very angry not because they rejected his sons, but they rejected their rule of God. This shows that a leader like Samuel cared more about God than his family.
God told Samuel to breif the people against the dangers of having a king, but the people were not ready to give up. So, God finally decided to give them a king. Sometimes in our life, when we go against the will of God, there would be some warnings. But if we forsake them, We might get what we wanted, but we inherit trouble.
As children of God, we would only be safe if we are under His direct rule. But when we choose the ways of the world, and look at others, we start rejecting His rule and land ourselves in trouble. Today, whatever might be the case, if we are not under God's governance, let us ask Him to come and take His place in our lives. We may think that our assets, job, education etc, might be our security, but in seconds they would vanish.
Only God's protection and rule lasts forever. Let us safely return to the rule of His Kingdom.
In the next post, we will look at how God chose the first King of Israel.
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