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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Be careful what you ask for! We come to I Samuel Chapter 8 , where Israel asks for a king. Oh, be careful what you ask for – God may grant you your request.
How did Israel come to be ruled by a king when she had the living God who had blessed her in so many ways – and what lessons can we learn for today from these verses?
What we have in these passages is what is important to God. These books cover some 150 years.
Samuel had been the judge or prophet ruler among the people of Israel. This was unique amongst all the nations. God had raised up judges to govern His Chosen People. Samuel was the last prophet to lead Israel. 1Samuel 3verse 19 .
The people of God had gone astray yet again. Their worship was corrupted - for some 20 years they had forsaken God's ways.
1Samuel 7 verse 2 - Samuel, the prophet of God, brings God's message to man. Return with all your heart - Repent and put away. It is not enough just to be negative and put things away - but consecrate yourselves. Do something about it - Verse 3 - deliverance is promised.
Samuel would lead purified repentant people - verse 6 .
Verse 8 - as battle approached the people asked Samuel to pray, They recognised Samuel as a man of prayer - a man who talked with God - and man who could do real business with God. Israel defeated the Philistines on this occasion.
Verse 12 - Ebeneezer - "Thus far has the Lord helped us". There was deliverance and victory and safety and security and peace. That happens when people ask for the help of the man of God. God was with His People because they obeyed Him as He spoke through His servant, Samuel.
Although Samuel had ministered to the needs of the people, the people wanted more!
But in Chapter 8 verses 4,5 - and 19,20 the people said - We want a king over us. Then we shall be like all the other nations with a king to lead us!"
Samuel had been called by God - when he was a young boy - and he had been based at the Temple in Beersheba - but his sons had turned aside from God and the ways of God and were living dishonest immoral lives.
It was as if the elders felt insecure - they were not sure what lay ahead - "If only we had a king". This displeased Samuel - he was upset - but it made Samuel pray – and God spoke to Samuel and made things very clear - "It is not you they have rejected, Samuel, but ME".
This was not God's Plan for Israel - but HE permitted it. Let them have a king but warn them - spell it out - it will be costly.
Now - all this is very relevant - people wanted devolution – in Isarel’s case, they wanted their own king – although they already had one. Let them have it, if that is what they want. Let them vote - and they vote for more government – then they can have it - but it will be costly.
“Lord God Almighty – as we read Your Holy Word, speak to us – teach us – may those who have listening ears and hearing hearts, pay attention to what you say. Forgive us where we have rejected Jesus Christ the King – have mercy upon us where we have rejected the authority and authenticity of the Scriptures. We need mercy, more than justice – help us as we pray and look to You, in Jesus Name. Amen!
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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