In 1 Samuel 8, in an era before Israel had an earthly king, the people of Israel looked around at the surrounding nations and thought: “Hey! Look at those guys! They have impressive earthly kings. We want one of those so we can be like them!” Now, keep in mind, Israel was a Theocracy – God was their King. The Old Testament Law was their NATIONAL CONSTITUTION. God had fought their battles and won their victory. God had done things for Israel that no other nations had ever experienced. The people of Israel were God’s people! They were NOT like the rest of the nations, so why should they be governed like the rest of the nations?
God heard the demand of the people of Israel for a king, and understood their demand to be a rejection of His kingship over them. They didn’t want GOD, they wanted a king like all the cool kids had. Samuel, the Lord’s prophet, explained to the people that they would be trading the God of the universe who wanted to give them an abundant life for an earthly king who would tax them, entangle them in wars, and enslave their children.
Upon hearing what Samuel said, you know how the people of Israel responded?
“Give us a king like all the rest.”
So, that is what they got. For hundreds of years, Israel got kings like all the other countries. 42 kings in all … and all but 10 of them (in the most generous estimation) were BAD for the people. What a tragedy! What a terrible trade. How could they make such a decision?
How? We know how. We are tempted to allow the eyes of our flesh to over-ride the eyes of our faith. We are tempted to think we know better than God what is “best” for us. Sometimes God allows us to experience the consequences of those decisions when we choose them over Him with equally tragic results. We make bad trades too.
But, in the midst of these experiences, God gives us windows to what one day will be. In His grace, God promises to replace the broken kingdoms of this world with something far better, ruled by SOMEONE far superior.
After the debacle of Saul’s rule of Israel, God called a young man tending sheep to shepherd the nation of Israel. This shepherd was David, and his kingdom was a shadowy glimmer of hope for what might one day be …
This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will look with the eyes of faith at 2 Samuel 7:1-17. In these verses we will see God promise one day (through David’s line) to bring in a King … a King of Kings … who will sit on David’s throne and rule over His people in a wonderful rule. Oh to be a resident of HIS kingdom!
In a world that is broken. In a world where we often experience the consequences of leadership over us that is “like the world.” In this world, let us gaze at God’s promise of a one day King and Kingdom that is far superior to anything we have ever known. May we unite our voices in song and prayer, may we unite our affections in steadfast agreement that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings, as we read of a promise God made to David and see the “Scarlet Thread” pulled through the era of the Kings in the Old Testament. We want Him and not them. Join us for part 7 of our sermon series in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service. See you there and bring friends!