Subscription Lists
The Way
by Kevin Pauley
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your example. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have." When they said, "Give us a king to judge us," Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the LORD. But the LORD told him, "Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king. - 1 Samuel 8:4-7 HCSB
When Israel was in the wilderness of Kedemoth, they sent ambassadors to King Sihon of Heshbon with a request to peacefully pass through his land without doing any harm. He not only refused but declared war on Israel and mobilized his forces at Jahaz. God handed King Sihon over to Israel and they crushed him. They conquered all his towns and completely destroyed his nation. They plundered everything, taking anything of value they wished as they ransacked his towns. No town had walls too strong for them.[1]
When they neared the land of Bashan, King Og and his army attacked them at Edrei. The Lord God handed King Og and all his people over to Israel and God’s armies killed them all. Sixty of King Og’s towns were taken, all fortified cities with high walls and barred gates.[2]
Jericho’s king not only could not keep his city from Israel’s armies, he couldn’t even convince the local prostitute to give up two Israeli spies![3]
Whenever they submitted to the Lord’s commands, Israel beat every king six ways from Sunday. When they blatantly disobeyed or ignorantly disregarded Yahwheh Melek’s commands, they lost even when they had superior fighting capabilities.[4]
Why they thought a king would help I have no idea, but there is always a danger of God’s people trying to mix the “old ways of the world” with God’s ways.[5] The end result is always the same: “None of them fear the LORD or observe their statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments the LORD commanded”[6]
Man-made practices were inadequate for the people of Israel and they will be inadequate for the church. Replacing God’s commands with our own man-made teachings makes our worship a farce.[7] It is irrelevant if our service is intended to please and honor God. Human wisdom cannot discover what pleases Him without revelation.[8] God has told us in the gospel everything that pleases Him.[9] All we do must be done by Jesus' authority. For Him to authorize it, it must be done His way.[10]
A curse is upon anyone who attempts to lead God’s people away from their rightful Shepherd.[11] If we wish to succeed eternally, we must have God. If we are to have God, we must abide in Jesus’ teachings.[12]
We must evict ourselves from our heart’s thrones and determine to make God our King and His Word our constitution. We must settle for nothing less.
[8] Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 10:23
[9] John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3
[10] Colossians 3:17; Proverbs 3:5-6
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "The Way" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.