Last week in Kids Club in our ministry apartment, we introduced the story of the children of Israel demanding a king from samuel. This was a very disheartening reuest for Samuel. So, Samuel went to te Lord with the people’s request. I kind of got the impresssion Samuel was almost saying, “This is a crazy thing, Lord, and I know you’ll never go for it- but you know your people? Well, they think they want a king. Isn’t that a good one? Hahahahaha…”
To Samuel’s dismay, here is what the Lord answered: “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. They’ve rejected me as their King. So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they’re in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they’re likely to get from a king.”
So, Samuel obeyed God and went to the people with this answer: “This is the way the kind of king you’re talking about operates… He’ll put some of your sons to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He’ll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect God to answer.”
Well, the people didn’t listen to Samuel. They wanted their own way. “Herd mentality” took over and they said: “No! We will have a king to rule us! Then we’ll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles.”
Well, you can probably guess that the Israelites lived to rue the day they ever asked for a king! Taxes, draft, forced labor and more was a tough comparison to how they had lived with our gracious God as their king.
Thinking about this really made me start to see this election in the light of this story from 1 Samuel 8. I feel like half of our country is just whining and crying and saying, “Wah, wah, wah. I want my government to take care of me. I want all my needs met regardless if I am living responsibly and working hard myself. I want someone in charge who tells me what I want to hear. I want Obama!”
I think if that happens, our country will look back and wonder what in the world they were thinking in passing up an honorable, duty-driven man like Senator McCain for the inexperienced, “change” his positions daily, short-sighted, unqualified person known as BHO. The course he could set our country on will not easily be corrected.
I hope and pray for John McCain. I want to see a red U.S. map on Wednesday morning!
