2|28|08

Its not easy growing up as a Christian- putting your faith into someone the world cannot see. For a long time one story in the bible or really- one request in the Bible- has been on my mind. For centuries the Israelites were led by judges such as Deborah and Samuel who governed them by the word of God- there were many judges- much like a theocracy. Everything God centered. But the people saw vast nations around them with a king, and since Samuel's sons were not convicted by God, they wanted a king- one man to rule them all. Humans have a unique sense of perceiving fame and idolization as a focus in their lives. We have celebrities- they wanted a king.
Samuel 8:4-21

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead ^[a] us, such as all the other nations have."

6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."

10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle ^[b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

The people want a king and although the Lord said- he listed- these are the horrible things you WILL go through- he WILL hurt you- they did not heed God's words. We as sinners are very stubborn and do not understand that when God says something- He's not joking.

Its hard to live as Christians in a world led by kings. But we are led by the KING of kings- the LORD of lords. He is the First, He is the Last, He is Forevermore. We may have many kings in our lives- our laziness, money, men, women, school, work, so many desires that shadow the true light of our lives. God says look- i am ALL you need. i am your EVERYTHING. Man cannot lift you up, they cannot give you the things I give you. Stop resting on their shoulders, stop listening to voices that have never heard MY voice. I am your rock. The Lord says he is your rock.
Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.

The Kings of this world will batter you. They will hold you down when you are meant to stand. But God is not one to leave you- even when the Israelites said- we want a Man to rule over us, to save us, God said OK. He sent them Saul, David, Solomon. All of them at SOME point- great leaders. But how can any of us put all our hopes and desires on flesh alone? So of course they faltered, of course they left them and passed away and created distressing circumstances. Because the Blind cannot lead the Blind. It takes Christ to be our eyes and our ears. So God sent the ultimate King to rule over us, to show that, OK you cannot see me- so you doubt me. You have not seen my tongue so you doubt there is a voice- so I will send you my son. I will send you my Son and you will see me, you will hear me, and you will know that I understand your suffering because I will suffer for you. So when the Israelites wanted a King. He gave one to them. As Jesus Christ.

Jesus Loves You.
:)

Job 1:21 and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.