1 Samuel 8 - The People Demand A King

In their chapter, Samuel is growing older and assigns some leadership responsibilities to his sons. They judge Israel for a time, but like  Eli's sons, Samuel's sons do not honor God and serve themselves. Corrupt leadership drives the people to confront Samuel and demand a king like the other nations have. 

God had intended that He would rule over Israel and that judges would seek Him in administering the governance of the nation. Samuel felt the rejection, but God reminds Samuel it is really the leadership of God they reject. They have consistently rebelled against God's leadership and envied what other nations had. 

God has Samuel warn the people what life will be like under a king. That man will serve himself rather than the nation and all that is dear might be confiscated for the king's purposes. Yet the people won't hear the warnings and are bent on having their own way - the way of the heathen nations around them which God has helped them to defeat. 

Our nation in 2016 is about to choose a new leader. Much of the same rationale is offer today as was given when Israel wanted a king. We want a change from the status quo because of their abuses. The people are angry and they are looking for leaders who will reflect their anger in government. When the elections are over and the new President is in place, they may find that they have merely exchanges one form of corruption for another. 

May God help our nation if we get what we ask for. We often don't know what we really need because we can't see into the future, but we need to depend on God to reveal the character of the candidates. Even then, we will learn that they too are sinners in need of a Savior. The best we can hope for is a leader who will seek God and humble himself/herself before our Maker and seek wisdom from above. 

Unfortunately, it appears that the candidates we have running appear to have found their own solutions to the nations problems and hold their own wisdom high. Our nation is getting what it asked for, but is it really best?  Our best bet is for individuals and congregations to band together and in true humility seek God again. If we will pledge ourselves to seek God first, He may hear our cries and perhaps spare us. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.