1 Samuel 8
Scripture1 Samuel 8:5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”Observation - What does it say?Samuel had faithfully led Israel for many years. Not as a king, but as a prophet and servant of God. Samuel got old and appointed his sons to be Israel’s new leaders. However, they weren’t the kind of leader’s Samuel was. They were dishonest and had poor character. The elders of Israel called a meeting with Samuel and in essence told him, “You’re too old to lead and your sons are too sinful to lead, so give us a king to lead us - you know, like the other nations have.” However, we find later in the chapter that the real reason they wanted a king was to be like the other nations. The last reason they gave was really the first. They wanted a king who would go before them and fight their battles, just like the rest of the world.Understanding - What does it mean?When influenced by the world, people’s tendency is to turn from God’s leadership.Think about how dumb the Israelites request was! They would rather have a person fight their battles than God. God said that in wanting a king they were rejecting him and warned them through Samuel that they would later regret it. But they wouldn’t listen.God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, likening these kinds of decisions to rejecting a spring of living water for a broken cistern (a hole dug in the dirt used for holding water).Jeremiah 2:13 My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.The Israelites didn’t want to be different. They wanted to be like the world around them. The problem is that God’s pattern for life isn’t the same as the world’s pattern. You cannot follow the worlds pattern without rejecting God’s pattern.1 John 2:15 (NIV) Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.Life ApplicationDon’t be foolish! God, what are the ways I’ve been copying the world around me instead of loving you?God, please reveal any areas I have turned from your leadership. I want you to be my Lord, not just in word but in practice. May we learn from the Israelites bad example, heed your warnings, and choose to put you first. There is no one better to lead me! There is no one better to sit on the decision making seat in my life. There is no one better to fight my battles. You are God over all! You are all-powerful and all-knowing and your love for me has no limits! I trust you and declare that I want you to be the Lord and Leader of my life. Amen.
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- Levi Thompson