“1 Samuel 8:7. "...They have not rejected you; they have rejected
me as king."
Many times, as Christians in the
modern world, we read a biblical text and think to ourselves, "how could
these people not follow God when he so clearly reveals himself?" One such instance is found early in the book
of Samuel. As the prophet is aging, the
people looked to the future and see little hope. Although Samuel is only a
mouthpiece for the living God, the people do not call for another messenger
rather they plead for one to rule over them.
They tell Samuel that they desire for him to "appoint a king to
rule them, just like everybody else."
To many of us, we see the request for
a human king to replace the King of Kings as a strange and even idiotic
request. How could those have
experienced the power of the Almighty over and over abandon the source of that
power? My brothers and sisters in
Christ, let s not be too quick to condemn.
Let us not pass judge so easily, for we are guilty of the same
transgression. We also abandon God. Just as the people of God refuse the counsel
of the God-called man, we often ignore the voice of God spoken thru His
servants. The nation declared"...We
will have a king to rule us! Then we'll be just like all the other
nation," Is not this not the mantra
of the world and even the church today?
Do not many of those claiming Christ also desire to just like the world
around them.
My brothers and sisters in
Christ, our task is to be those
who sway the culture not those swayed by it.
Our desire should be for God approval and worldly affirmation. We should be willing to feel the sting of
rejection knowing it is not us who other reject rather it is the Spirit which
resides within. Let us learn from the
story found in Samuel and let each one of us enthrone Christ as the King of our
hearts and lives.