The people demanded Samuel give them a king. The people wanted something different in their leadership, they wanted a change. The Lord instructed Samuel to give the people what they wanted but to first "...solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them." (8:9)
Samuel proceeds to list six times how this king will take from them. The king will take their sons, their daughters, the best of the their fields, a tenth of their grain, their male and female servants, and their sheep. And finally the warning ends with this truth, "And you will be his servants." (8:11-17)
Over the past few months we have seen time and time again the quality, character and potential of the man many are screaming to be our next president. The issues he supports, the people he sympathizes with, the leadership he associates with and his track record have all been presented and proven to the people of this nation on more than one occasion. We have been forewarned.
This man will take our sons (the strength of our country, he will increase his government), he will take our daughters (the beauty and appeal of our freedoms), he will take our fields, grain, servants, and sheep (our wealth, free market, investments and free enterprise) and finally we will become his servants (he will take our independence).
And yet, despite the truth spelled out and deliberately laid before the people of this great nation we continue to hear the people say, just as the Israelites said to Samuel, "No, but we will have a king over us." (8:19)
Oh this grieves my heart. No, I don't know the outcome of this election, but I hear the heart of this country as we have strayed so far from the truth of God's word. The rejection of the people of the sovereignty of God. Yet, God would say to us (those whose heart's long for Him and this nation to follow after Him) "...they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them."
My first inclination is overwhelming when I consider the ramifications of what this could mean for our freedoms as we know them to be. Very few of us have lived in oppression and I know there are many areas of my freedoms I take advantage of today. But my hope is not lost, for this is not the end of the story. As Audio Adrenaline sings, "A Mighty Good Leader is on the way." Just as we see God's grace in giving the Israelites a king after His heart, a good leader, we know God is not finished with this story. Secretly Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse and anointed David, God's choice, as king over His people. So today, the Lord is working behind the scenes and although David was banished from the land for a time, much like God is being banished from our society, the King will return and His kingdom will be glorious.
Therefore, my peace rests in the promise of the hope of Christ's return. I thank God daily for the strong confidence we can put in His promises to us. Promises like: He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5), if God is for us who can be against us (Rom 8:31), His thoughts towards us are of peace and not of evil to give us a future and a hope (Jer 29:11). These are all promises we know and I repeat them over and over but each time as I am reminded of these beautiful truths my faith is strengthened, because my resolve in grounded, the Lord has proven Himself faithful and true filling my heart with His peace and abolishing my fears by His strength. The Lord, He is God and there is no other god besides our God (Ps 86:10).
No matter how this election turns it is the Lord who reigns. Even if the man in question becomes our next president (it may be many years still before this nation is thrown into the extremes of oppression mentioned in 1 Samuel 8) this is not my home and there is no sufficient place to flee but into the strong tower of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Look up for our redemption draws near,
CC
1 comment:
The Bible is a reflection of God’s Character and nature. When we tell our children (or others) there is a right and wrong and they ask, what is right? We use to just reply what it say in the bible is right. It is Truth. But why? Because it is God’s Word, a reflection of God’s Character and nature, He divinely wrote it.
Five specific National Consequences for Rejecting God
1. We have become a Nation of Fools:
Rom 1:21 Because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools
Reject God over and over and you become foolish.
2. They accept Pagan Spirituality
Rom 1:25 For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
New churches want to get rid of the bible, their claim is “Doctrine divides, Spirit unites” the question is what spirit? The spirit of Truth or the spirit of the lie.
Pagan Spirituality is about the worship of nature and has the ultimate goal of ending guilt.
“We’re not sinners” so it gives them license to justify their rebellion against the God of the Bible.
3. They accept homosexuality as normal
Rom 1:26 For this cause, God gave them up to dishonorable affections. For even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another; males with males working out shamefulness, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error.
The only other time was there 100% acceptance of homosexuality, the time of Noah. There’s a thought for you!
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man.
4. They become a debase and vile nation
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not think fit to have God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do the things not right,
5. The Nations Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Branches of government approve of and encourage Immorality and corruption.
Our judicial system starts to fall apart and rules against God:
In the 1948 case of Illinoisex rel. McCollum v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that religious instruction could not be conducted in public school buildings.
In 1961, in Torcaso v. Watkins, the Court held that the state of Maryland cannot require applicants for public office to swear that they believed in the existence of God.
In 1962, in Engel v. Vitale, the U.S. Supreme Court forbade public schools to require the recitation of prayers.
In 1963 Abington School District v. Schempp, the Court prohibited any state law or school board to require that passages from the Bible be read or that the Lord’s Prayer be recited in the public schools at the beginning of each school day
In the 1980 case of Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court ruled that the Ten Commandments cannot be posted within the public schools.
In 1987, in Edwards v. Aguillard, the U.S. Supreme Court held, 7-2, the Louisiana's "Creationism Act," unconstitutional. This statute prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools, except when it was accompanied by instruction in "creation science." The Court found that, by advancing the religious belief that a supernatural being created humankind, which is embraced by the term creation science, the act impermissibly endorses religion. In addition, the Court found that the provision of a comprehensive science education is undermined when it is forbidden to teach evolution except when creation science is also taught.
In the 1992 Lee v. Weisman case, the Court ruled that public schools may not sponsor invocations at graduation ceremonies. (No Pastors, ministers, priests)
2000 The U.S. Supreme Court, furthering the separation between church and state, decided recently not to allow public schools to lead prayers before football games.
2003 Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case. In the 6-3 ruling, the justices struck down the sodomy law in Texas
Not to mention the overturning of traditional marriage just last year in California with the VOTERS voted for!!!
Love you,
Sandy
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