Detour Time! I can remember the event like it was yesterday. My wife and I were in our bed in a cabin in Dallas, Texas, where we lived. We were reading the Bible together. Specifically, we were reading 1 Samuel 8:4-9:
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.”
The background of this passage is that Israel’s great prophet, Samuel, was old, and his kids did not walk in his ways. Samuel had actually appointed his two sons to be judges over Israel. The verse before the above verses said his sons “took bribes and perverted justice.” Israel was still at constant war with its enemies around the Promised Land. The people of Israel were in fear about their future. So, they came to Samuel and told him to appoint a king over them. They wanted protection from a human. Now, God was always supposed to be Israel’s king – not any human! They were called to trust in God and serve Him alone! God was the one who would fight Israel’s wars and protect the people of Israel. So, when Samuel hears these words from his fellow countrymen, he was beyond displeased. Notice, the first thing Samuel does – he prays! Wouldn’t it be awesome if the first thing we did in a difficult situation was pray? Samuel didn’t let his emotions get the best of him. He prayed! And listen to what the Lord told him “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.”
Every time, I read those words it saddens me. That verse may be one of the most disheartening verses in the entire Bible. When I read that verse to my wife 8 years ago, we both started to cry. It was if the Holy Spirit convicted both of our hearts simultaneously. We wondered out loud how many times we had rejected God as king of our lives. How many times had we put something ahead of God? What were the very things that we were putting in front of God in our lives? All we could do that day is just begin to pour our hearts out to God. Joanna and I had a beautiful time of repentance as we fell back on God’s grace. We allowed Jesus Christ to once again reign as supreme in our hearts. As I type these words, I have to ask myself those same questions today. What about you? If someone followed you are around secretly for a week and was able to even listen to your very thoughts, would they know that Christ is supreme in your life? If not, read these words again “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” Take some time right now and pray to your heavenly Father. Repent of things that you may have given the preeminent place in your life besides Christ. Fall back on His grace! Let Him rule as the only King of your life! See you next week back in Galatians!