ISRAEL DESIRES A KING - BIG GOVERNMENT TAKES HOLD 1 SAMUEL 8:1-22
 

We have seen God’s perfect government when we studied His laws for taking care of the poor, having just weights and scales, tithing, and operating according to a debt free model. God governed compassionately through the judges and His burden on the nation was light. As long as they obeyed His financial laws the nation prospered. In time of war the people would mobilize and God would give them victory when they cried out to Him. The seven year debt forgiveness program (Yovel or Jubilee) ensured the prosperity of all and kept each family’s inheritance secure.
The people were unhappy with Samuel’s son's behavior and because of their unrighteousness appealed to God through Samuel for a king. Samuel was not pleased but asked the Lord for guidance on this request. The Lord told Samuel that the nation was not rejecting Samuel, but that they were rejecting Him. In effect the people were rejecting God’s form of government in order that they could be like all the other nations. 1 Samuel 8:5

God told them the king would take the most talented among the people and use them for His own gain. 1 Samuel 8:11-13 The king would also take their choicest property through eminent domain, an extra 10% of their income as a tax, require laborers for his work, and make them servants to government and it's needs. 1 Sam 8:11-18

The people insisted again (1 Sam 8:19-20) that they have a king like all the other nations. The Lord told Samuel to listen to them and give them what they wanted. The Lord would give them a head and shoulders government (1 Sam 9:2) He would let them do it their way and learn the hard way. During his rule Saul would do things the way he wanted and did not obey the voice of the Lord.

Most of the time we create our own problems. Samuel’s sons did not obey their father and treated the people unfairly. For whatever reason Samuel did not discipline his sons correctly. They rebelled from him and did not perform their job as the Lord desired of them. The people saw this as their chance to get out from under the system of judges the Lord had established. They used this opportunity to get a king. No one was seeking the Lord’s way in this matter--everyone wanted to do things their own way.

How often does the Lord back off and allow us to learn the hard way? We get a notion and become determined to do things the way we think it should be done rather than seek the Lord’s way. He will often give us exactly what we want to show us how much better His way is. The Lord is not a dictator. He loves us and wants the best for us--we just have to ask Him! We have a free will and God did not create us to be robots. He desires we willingly come to Him and seek His will in our lives. He desires a true loving relationship based on trust and faith. This is no different from how a good marriage should operate.

Our government has a spiritual problem. Throwing money at problems does not fix things. We've been throwing money at poverty and education since President Johnson's "Great Society" progressive program. People are the problem--people's hearts. BIG government is not the answer. God's government is the only way. That is a heart problem.

We can take government into our own hands if we want to, but there is a better way. If we yield to God’s government in our lives we will be much more satisfied. God is our creator and His way of government is above our ways. Doing it His way results in the fruits of the spirit in our lives. It may at first be a difficult time of testing and chastisement, but in the end produces the fruits of righteousness and peace in us. As the creator, God does not want to control us, but rather, to teach us His perfect way. He does not want us to submit--but to yield to Him. When we learn His way we will be qualified to rule and reign with Him in the coming Millennial Kingdom. Revelation 22:12-14

Tomorrow: GOD’S ETERNAL LAW - TORAH