1st Samuel 11
For clarity, I review where we are at this point with my kids. The people didn't want to be special...they wanted to be like the other nations. Isn't that just like when we were growing up? Most of us wanted to wear the "cool" and trendy clothes of the time like everyone else. If a celebrity wore something unique, then all the youth would emulate.
But God wanted the Jews (and us Christians) to be different...to stand apart from the things of the world. That doesn't mean that we disengage with the world...quite the contrary...we are to engage the world with the Word! We are to live our lives FOR THE LORD, and be salt and light (Matt 5:13-16).
So the people wanted a king...so God gave them one. Remember, God said that the kings would come from the tribe of Judah, and Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. But God knew that the people wanted a king to look like a king, and Saul was as kingly as could be. He was handsome, tall and at first, humble.
(v.6) Here we see such a great start for Saul, that the Holy Spirit is upon him, and lead with courage.
(v.13) Saul shows us that he was giving credit to God for the victory...something that will change very soon.
1st Samuel 12
Now that Israel has its first king, Samuel will step down as their leader, and counsel Saul and his men. Samuel gives a speech, reminding them of his devotion to them and to God, and that he warned them of their wicked wish of wanting a king instead of God to lead them.
From his youth until now, he reminds them that he never mislead them, and that God has always been there for them. To prove that one more time, he has God make a roaring thunder and spectacular lightening in a time when it would be scarce. Also, it must have been exponentially greater than even the worst storms they've experienced, since the whole nation was afraid.
(v.19) Instead of the people repenting and rejecting their want of a king in Saul, they ask for forgiveness and want to still keep Saul! This is called "straddling the fence" or having it both ways. If they were really repentent, they would have abandoned their want for an earthly king, and cried out to God to lead them.
This is where I take some time to teach my kids that relativism is dangerous. If we try to mix worldly things into our spiritual lives, we will see it go the wrong direction. For it is written,
"A little leaven leavens the whole lump." ~ Gal 5:9
Leaven is yeast, which "puffs up" the bread and helps it stay edible longer. Leaven is likened to pride and sin, so what this verse is saying, is when we allow a little sin or worldly things into our lives, it will eventually overpower the purity of our beginnings.
No comments:
Post a Comment