This is the clarion call of a stiff-necked people for whom Yahweh has NEVER been enough! These words resonate within the bowels of my spirit even today because the clarion call has not changed! Of course, the people of God don't want a King today (I'm sure only because our political system does not allow for one; but IF WE COULD...). But they have sure been able to "manufacture" a reasonable facsimile thereof; we just call him a Bishop, Apostle or Prophet!
Right after the Ark of the Lord was returned to Israel at Kirjath Jearim, as the prophet of God Samuel judged Israel for its unrighteousness, Israel demanded a King. Samuel was mortified at what the Lord God would do! Surely the short term memory of these selfish Hebrews must have gone awry! They just witnessed God slaughter more than 50,070 people for just "looking or gazing upon the ark of the Lord (I Sam 6:19)." Surely this additional transgression would bring the full fury of the wrath of God and lead to the utter annihilation of his beloved nation.
The WARNING from the prophets has never changed because the ONLY words they are able to speak are those words that come directly to them from the Lord. In addition, EVERYTHING they say comes to pass and in EVERY instance, GOD gets the glory! Samuel told Israel that is they would renounce their love and worship for foreign Gods that the One True God would forgive them. I always say, "God always warns us before He judges us!"
After averting another attack by the Philistines and receiving the grace of a "Rejected God" once again which included complete protection from further attacks, decimated cities and territories being restored and the spirit of peace throughout the land the PEOPLE STILL WANTED A KING! Once again, God was not good enough for them to worship.
Samuel was not pleased with this request, but at the direction of the Lord, he did what they asked. But the Lord said that Samuel (who represents "truth" in this story) must tell the people the characteristics of the KING that they desired (I Sam 8:6-22). Even after hearing all the suffering they would endure at the hands of their future King, the people STILL demanded that he be manifested. God selected Saul to be Israel's first King. Samuel anointed him and he began his reign over the nation. Now, Israel was elated because they were just like all the other nations!
What do we learn from this revelation? The people of God have not changed in their lack of desire to engage God on an intimate level. Dating back to Moses, the people of God have avoided God at all costs. First judges, then kings then priests and pastors and prophets and apostles. Give the people anything but God and they will be satisfied. Herein lays the great deception. They even rejected the Christ!
Face to face with the Lord God removes all the shenanigans we like to roll out on a daily basis. You know, the things your pastor or prophet can NEVER know unless you confess it to them. But even then, what can they do? They can't heal you? They can't deliver you from crack addiction or death. They can't save your soul. They can't renew your spirit. The words they speak are not their words; they are the words of the Lord God.
So God said to Samuel (again, representing "truth"), let them have their King and tell them what he will do to them and tell them that when they call out to ME to save them from the abuses of their King, "I will not hear them."
The Lord God changes not....
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