Morning Light – May 6th, 2015
[1Sa 8:1-22 KJV] 1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
What is the difference between a bribe and a donation? A bribe perverts judgment. We get prophetic requests occasionally where a person asks us to prophecy that a next door neighbor would divorce their spouse and marry them. One lady dealing with an unfaithful spouse reported to us that the spouse had repented. She wasn’t sure that he was being genuine so just flatly asked us to prophesy that her husband would drop dead if he wasn’t sincere. Others have made requests asking for calamity to be visited on their enemies or for some other questionable purpose. My father made a statement that he didn’t do much counseling as a pastor because usually the counseling session was requested with the precondition that he be prepared as a pastor to tell the person what they wanted to hear. One lady came into his office for counsel and before speaking laid a fat envelope, sealed on the desk in front of him. She proceeded to tell him all over her grievances toward the people in her life and her deep desire for retribution. After some time she became quiet and the two looked at each other across the desk with the envelope between them. Finally in exasperation she leapt up exiting the office with the exclamation “just forget it! You will just tell me what the bible says!” She left the envelope on the table contain several thousands of dollars. The ministry is not for sale.
Samuel’s sons are appointed in his stead as Samuel get’s older. How many times have you seen nepotism in the church? Relatives of the pastor without talent, anointing or character are appointed to positions of responsibility while meaningful and powerfully gifted and anointed men and woman are passed over. Nothing is said because the pastor’s wisdom is to be accepted without question. The church suffers as a result. It is the bane of many churches and a common cause why loving supportive members walk out the door never looking back. The reaction to Samuel’s son compounds the problem. “We need a strong leader! We want a king like other nations!” Two wrongs don’t make a right. We see this often when people get hurt in smaller congregations and hoping for a different experience will migrate to a larger congregation where they can hide out without any expectation of getting involved because the leadership runs the platform ministry that is hermetically sealed off from the congregation with no opportunity for anyone other than a few professionals to ascend to prominence in the congregation. Samuel is grieved when he sees this and cries out to God.
7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
God never intended for Israel to have a king. Be careful what you ask for. There is a place of insistent asking that is so provocative to God that He will answer but not for the reasons you might expect. If there is one lesson in the era of the judges is the dangers of God leaving men to do what is right in their own eyes. In 400 years of history covered from Joshua to King Saul only the time of Samuel demonstrated what God had in mind for the people He brought out of Egypt in terms of governance. As it was in the days of Moses the people came to Samuel throughout the year and inquired of the prophet regarding particular issues in their lives. Samuel would respond and the people would go back to their lives living under the open heaven of God’s blessing as they worshipped Him at Shiloh bringing offerings there to minister to the Lord.
When larger issues arose God would send a Gideon or a Jephthah to deliver the people yet would not become king because God was their king. This arrangement regarding Samuel is picture of how the prophetic fits in people’s lives and in the new testament church. The church is Shiloh. Samuel lived in Ramah. Every believer should have a Shiloh and a Ramah in their lives. The two work closely together acknowledging each others place and placement in the lives of the people. Today the church (which answers to Shiloh) mocks at Ramah (the High Place). What do you need a prophet for? We have all you need at Shiloh (the Church). This is not God’s plan. We need both Shiloh (the Church) and Ramah (the Prophetic) and one cannot control the other. We have no record that Samuel submitted to the priests at Shiloh. 1 Cor. 12:28 says “first Apostles, then Prophets, then Teachers”. No mention even of pastors in the primary hierarchy of the foundation Jesus laid for the church. Doesn’t exclude the pastor but certainly begs the question.
11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
Samuel describes to the people the king that shall rule over them. He will be a man who by his position with take more than he gives. His rule will not require any validation. He will take their sons and their daughters and the goods and their gold without remedy. Samuel predicts that the day will come that they will cry out to God because of the king they demanded and the Lord would not hear them. Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it. Does this mean that the people are without recourse? No – because even though God never intended to give them a king He nonetheless works to give them a king after His own heart (King David) and ultimately even redeeming mankind for Himself through the very office that by its existence represented the rejection of the people over His own rule.
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
Why did the people ask for a king? Because the way things were they didn’t think they could go on. There have been times I have cried out to God saying “God! I can’t take it anymore!” I would repeat this for weeks and weeks and finally the Lord says “Ok that is established. You can’t take it anymore – now what?” In the silence that followed the Lord in His absolute kindness refrained just long enough from giving me what I wanted to offer me his mercy one more time: “Do you trust Me? Let Me take it from here…” I am so thankful that He didn’t give me what I demanded as He did the Israelites regarding a king. He gently and sweetly encouraged me to continue trusting Him in the midst of a bad situation and ultimately gave me now what I demanded but what my heart truly desired and needed from His hand. Apply this to your own life when you are in need. Maintain a place of trust. Do not insist on your answer. Wait upon the Lord. Do you trust Him? Let Him take it from here.
Morning Light - May 6th, 2015: Lord! I Can't Take it Anymore!
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