When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.” 1^st Samuel 8:21-22 (NIV)

A New King in Town

There is much historical background in these books of the Bible. For brevity, I will encapsulate the story to just the essential context. I encourage you to read the books of First and Second Samuel for yourself. It is both an enlightening and encouraging read in God’s imminence (presence and work) among His people.

The people of Israel wanted to be like the other nations (v 8:5). It was not God’s will for His people to have a king, but He gave them what they wanted in Saul, the son of Kish.

Saul was everything we find attractive in physical looks and power. He was tall, extremely handsome, and from a wealthy family (vv 9:1-2). In searching for some of his father’s donkeys that had strayed he was brought to Samuel. God had told Samuel the previous day about Saul and that he was His choice to be king. After telling Saul God had ordained him to be king Samuel anointed him with olive oil, kissed him in the middle eastern fashion and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?”

Saul was off to a good start as king. He demonstrated a willingness to follow God’s leading. He even opened himself to being used by the Holy Spirit and it changed him into a different person (vv 10:6,10). Then he demonstrated humility at his presentation to the nation by Samuel at Mizpah (vv 10:20-23). But, alas, as admirable as these traits were, they were not firmly set convictions and they did not last. Saul could have allowed his good start to carry him into a monarchy blessed and strengthened by the hand of the LORD. He began as a popular leader but because of a headstrong and disobedient heart, God would eventually give the kingdom to another.

A point I wish to leave you with is how the Israelites said they wanted a king “to be like the nations.” That can be a huge problem for us as believers when we look around and want to be like everybody else. God calls us to a different way of living, not just for our satisfaction but for His glory. He chose Israel as His own particular people to serve and represent Him to the nations, not to mimic them. He has chosen us in the same manner.

We have one King and Lord who is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3), and His Majesty the King has called and ordained us to a higher calling, as a specially chosen royal priesthood (1^st Peter 2:9). In Christ, we have received His highest honor.

 People often become angry when discussing their opinions, but that is seldom the case with convictions. Let us hold to convictions of righteousness. Are your convictions anchored in the righteousness of Christ the King? What are yours and what will you do with them?

Ken

 

The Six Takes of Israel

   But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 1^st Samuel 8:6 (NIV)

God raised up a shepherd/leader for Israel in Hannah’s child, Samuel. And “As the shepherd goes, so go the sheep.” Samuel led the nation in righteousness, causing them to destroy their idols and obey the LORD. He was an itinerant pastor of the nation, going from town to town in a yearly circuit, returning to his hometown of Ramah where he would hold court for Israel (1st Sam 7:15-17).

As he grew old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, as Israel’s leaders. It looked like a Hophni and Phineas do-over, for Samuel’s boys turned to dishonesty, accepting bribes, and perverting justice (v 8:3). 

The first question that comes to mind is why did God not judge Samuel as He had Eli? Eli had willingly ignored the problem of his sons evil until it was too late (v 3:13). There is no indication anywhere in scripture that Samuel did that. It is the heartbreak of some parents, to have children who refuse to follow the godly teachings they received.

The elders knew Samuel would not live forever and were apparently unwilling to repeat Israel’s disreputable history under Eli’s family. They came to the prophet and asked for a king to lead them. This displeased him that the people were so willing to disregard the will of the King of the Universe. He went to the LORD and was told they were not rejecting Samuel but God’s reign over their lives. He said to give them what they wanted, which is always a red flag to any nation that disregards God’s leadership and protection. Many times, getting what we want is the last thing we need. Samuel spelled out what a king over them would claim in a ‘six takes’ address. 

First, a king would take their sons to serve his military (conscription). He would take their daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers (denial of a free job market). He would take their land from them and appoint men of his choice to oversee their upkeep (confiscation of personal property). He would take a tenth of what they produced and give it to his officials and attendants (bureaucracy). He would take their male and female servants, and their livestock for his own use, and he would take a tenth of their flocks and themselves as captive laborers (slavery). His caveat was, “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you” (vv 8:11-18).

The people said, “Uhhhh, OK, Great. That sounds doable. We’ll go with a king.” They sacrificed their liberty for security, and as Franklin said some 3,000 years later, when a people do that, they, “get neither.” If they had waited on the LORD, He would have given them both, and much more (Deuteronomy 8:1-13).

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people (Proverbs 14:34). It would only take 120 years under three kings until their rebellion against God brought civil war and a divided kingdom. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the heavy economic burden, taxation, and oppression the kings had imposed on them, just as Samuel had prophesied (1^st kings 12:3).

As a nation, have we acted righteously? Evidence is to the contrary. We have turned away from God’s commandments in accordance with His nature, character, and holiness to trusting in what is “right” in our own eyes or in government and elected officials to save us.

I have grown up in an America that is now unrecognizable to me. I love our nation and consider myself a man of conservative values, but a monarchist first, for I serve a King. Only God can save this nation, not by getting on our feet and moving to change but first on our knees in repentance and prayer. As important as moving in action is, and it is, prayer is its shoe leather. As we do, we will allow God to add the rest of the kingdom to us (Matthew 6:33, James 1:22).

“They have not rejected you, they have rejected Me.” When God is willfully and continually rejected, He will give us what we want, and it can be a tough education, but it always comes down to our choice (Romans 1:28). Now is the time to turn our eyes on Jesus as the only One with the power and authority to save us. Let us look to Him as our hope. He alone is the rightful King, and the King commands us!

Ken

Hearing and Listening

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  1^st Samuel 3:10

When I was in grade school, I discovered to my dismay the vast difference between hearing and listening. I was a daydreamer, and many were the times when my teachers would give class assignments and my mind would be away walking in meadows of afterschool fun. When the fog cleared, I would be in a panic and turn to my classmates and whisper, “What am I supposed to do?” The word had been set forth. I had heard, but I had not listened.

Before the Philistines were victorious over Israel God called a new national leadership who would be faithful to what He commanded for His people. This was in the young boy Samuel. He grew up and worked in the tent of meeting (tabernacle) at Shiloh, as a Levitical apprentice under Eli the high priest (v 3:1). He was assigned various duties in line with his age and physical abilities, yet in training in the priesthood, he had not yet encountered God on a personal level.

One night after everyone had gone to bed, the LORD spoke in an audible voice calling Samuel’s name. Samuel thought it was Eli calling him and went obediently to Eli’s bedside to inquire of him. After the third time the old man realized it was the voice of the LORD the young man heard and instructed him to say next time, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel had not been seeking selfish ambition nor walked in vain conceit, but in humility (Philippians 2:3). He was not even looking for the God of Israel to put a special appointment upon his life. He was simply serving where he found himself and he did so faithfully. To Samuel’s credit when he heard the voice of the Lord, he listened. He followed the leading and will of God in his current circumstances.

Be greatly encouraged if God has you only tending the tent of meeting and not working in the spotlights, for wherever it is you find yourself it is by His will and desire for your life. If just a cup of cold water is all you are commanded to give, you shall not lose your reward for doing so (Matthew 10:42). Be open and receptive to His word for you, whether in circumstances high or low. In his life Samuel was not looking to hear anything from the LORD but when he did, he listened.

Be faithful and humble yourself under His mighty hand in all that you do that He may exalt you at the right time (1^st Peter 5:6). When God speaks you will know it and He will always direct your way. Patience is a virtue and listening a skill we learn through practice.

When His word comes to us in our current circumstances, let us say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening,” no matter what we might be experiencing in our lives. It is always easy to hear, and His benefit is always bestowed when we listen.

Ken

But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. 1^st Samuel 5:6

God Judges in The End

The Philistines had beaten Israel in two decisive battles killing 34,000 Israeli soldiers. In that massive defeat the Philistines captured the ark of God which Hophni and Phineas had foolishly allowed the army of Israel to carry into battle, thinking it alone would give them victory. When the 98-year-old Eli heard the news that the ark had been captured, he fell off his seat breaking his neck and died. He had ruled as high priest for 40 years.

The Philistines took the ark into their city of Ashdod and as a trophy of war placed it in the temple of their fish god, Dagon. The next morning, they found Dagon’s statue on its face, prostrate before the ark and the God of Israel. They put the statue back on its pedestal only to find the following morning their god prostrate and broken before the ark. All that was left was the statue’s torso. It was such a shock and embarrassment that their god had been so disgraced that never again would a priest of this false god step on that area (v 5:5).

God’s chastisement was just getting started. He struck Ashdod and its surrounding territories with tumors. The Hebrew word means an inflammation of a boil or ulcer especially of the anus. The archaic KJV English is the word emerods from which we get our word hemorrhoids, and it pains me to say they did have these tumors in their “secret parts” (v 5:9). God is never mocked (Galatians 6:7) and always has the end in mind for those willing to bend over backwards to do so.

Ashdod began passing the ark around to other Philistine cities which suffered the same consequences. After 7 months of hot potato, they thought the better part of valor would be to return the thing that had them saying, “Uh, no thanks, I think I’ll stand,” when offered a chair.

To pacify the God of Israel, the Philistine priests had them make a “trespass offering” of 5 golden emerods and 5 golden mice. The vermin had apparently also brought disease on the land. The ark was loaded on a new cart with two cows and sent south. The ark of God was recovered by the Jews and was once again in Israel’s hands.

We currently live in biblical times where we are daily seeing evil people defying and mocking the Living God. But is God really mocked? We need not lose hope for He has always proven Himself faithful to His word and shown Himself powerful to save.

Let us not be weary in doing what is right and let us not give up hope that He will remain true to His promises to return and make all things new. We shall reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). God continues to work in all power, wisdom, and strength to bring righteousness and restoration, and be assured, He always triumphs in the end. 

Ken

Many Parts /Many Powers

And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phineas, will be a sign to you-they will both die on the same day. 1^st Samuel 2:34

The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were raised in the home of a man who would be the high priest and spiritual leader of Israel for forty years. Eli was apparently a pious man, and the boys knew about Yahweh and His righteous commandments. Being in the line of Levi and Aaron they were able to serve as priests. They however continued to prostitute their Aaronic office, both spiritually and physically (vv 2:16, 22). God sent an unnamed man to Eli who prophesied He would judge the two men for it, and they would pay with their lives.

God has many attributes. While love is one of them, the one He wants to be known for is not His love but His holiness and that surprises many. His holiness means He is set apart and perfect without any kind of imperfection and that perfection defines who He is. Unrighteousness goes against all He is and represents. His purity and perfection demand He judges all unrighteousness.

When a warring tribe called the Philistines moved to attack Israel, the Jews decided to use the Ark of the Covenant as a magical talisman to lead them to victory. It demonstrated their superstition and spiritual laziness in ignoring the LORD and His commandments. The Ark was made for Israel’s yearly atonement through the sprinkling of sacrificial blood by the high priest (Leviticus 16:14-16, Romans 3:25). The people were using it contrary to God’s will and design in the Law of Moses. In the ensuing battle, God allowed the Philistines to triumph over Israel and capture the Ark. As He commanded, His judgment against Hophni and Phineas was fulfilled, and they died in the battle on the same day.

The ‘Whole Counsel of God’ means the entire Word of His revelation to mankind. Love is just one part of who God is, a very important part to be sure, but it does not define His totality. He is a God of many parts and many powers to save us in every scenario. Thankfully, He is the Becoming One, able to become what we need.

Because He is holy all He does is perfect, even to judgment which is just every time. His love will always temper His judgement against sin, but His justice will never overlook it, as in the case of Hophni and Phineas.

If God were only a God of love, He would be one-dimensional. A one-dimensional God of only love could never judge anything with full equity or impartiality. Many parts show us His many powers. He calls us to know Him and take upon ourselves His servitude and learn about Him (Matthew 11:29).

Thankfully He always judges righteously (rightly) now and will do so at His soon returning to judge the nations (Joel 3:2, Matthew 25:31-46). Many parts of our Living God mean many powers. The Becoming One in all our situations. Yes, He does love us for sure, but He is so much more for us who believe-many parts, many powers-the kind of God that in which we can trust and serve with confidence.

 Ken

Hannah's Horn

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.” 1^st Samuel 2:1 (NKJV)

In the Old Testament a horn always symbolized strength. Hannah’s horn was the strength of the LORD. He is the only strength we can fully trust in to give us exactly what we need. That is, not always what we may want but always what He knows we need.

We saw that the LORD worked miraculously for Hannah and Elkanah. After Samuel’s birth God give them five more children. In her prayer of praise and thanksgiving in speaking of smiling at her enemies she makes a clear reference to her rival Peninnah. It is notable that the Lord put an end to Peninnah’s vicious verbal assaults, and her name is never again mentioned in Scripture.

In giving Hannah a son, He was also giving Israel what He knew the nation needed. It was at the end of the time of the Judges where people did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). As the last judge of Israel Samuel’s call was different as he was also a priest to the nation.

Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phineas, were priests but they were also wicked and unprincipled extortionists, using the priesthood to threaten and cheat their fellow Jews for gain and using women for sexual exploitation.

Eli knew what they were doing, and he reprimanded them, but he was very old (v. 2:22) and it was too little too late. Even as the rebuke came from the high priest of Israel the men ignored him and continued to blaspheme the LORD. But Eli was held accountable for not reigning them in sooner. God would demand their lives and declared an end of Eli’s priestly line which came some 130 years later in the time of King Solomon (1^st Kings 2:26,35). God proved He reigns in power and authority throughout all time.

Dare we hope He is able and willing to do the same for us in our day? Scripture tells us we can. We may see people pulling a Hophni and Phineas con but nothing gets by the eye of the Lord. He never changes and righteous judgment is an absolute aspect of His character. He not only will judge righteously but currently is judging righteously.

As Corrie Ten Boom said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.” We can trust in His horn of strength and there is rest and refreshing in that.

Ken

But If Not

“But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:18 (NKJV)

I had a young woman in a bible study I was teaching tell me, “I hear all these testimonies from Christians who say God did miracles in their lives. God has never done anything like that for me. When I hear people talk about how God worked in their lives, it makes me angry. Do I not have enough worth for Him to move like that for me?”

It's a pivotal question: why does God answer some prayers and not others? Hannah gave insight in her prayer of thanksgiving, even after giving up the one thing that was most precious to her, her only son.

She speaks of God’s holiness and sovereignty; there’s none like Him. As the God of all knowledge, all actions and all outcomes are weighed by His wisdom and understanding that will grow and strengthen us. What we might see as a benefit in the present could be detrimental in the future and only He knows that. That Supremacy even defines life and death (v 2:6).

So, if we’re walking through 1^st Samuel, why do we begin with Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

The context of today’s verse is that King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the peoples, nations and languages to worship a golden image he set up (Dan. 3:5) under threat of being burned alive (3:11). These three young Jewish captives refused.

In their refusal they said they knew God could save them from the fire but could not be absolutely sure He would. Their answer to the furious king was swift and sure. God could save them, but if not, their confidence was in Him, and they would not bow. Their faith remained steadfast in the God of Israel and that any outcome under His control would turn out perfectly on their behalf, be it life or death.

In his rage Nebuchadnezzar had the furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. The fire was so intense it killed the men who put the three Jewish men in (vs 3:22-23). The Lord protected the captives and was seen by the king as the fourth person walking with them in the fire (Dan 3:25). All three were brought out unhurt and unsinged, with not even a smell of smoke on their clothing (v 3:27).

And for Hannah? God blessed her and opened her womb. He gave her three more sons and two daughters (1^st Sam. 2:21). A great end to a great story of faith. God be glorified. But what if it had not turned out as she had hoped? Would it have meant God had loved her any less? No, nor would it have lessened her worth in His eyes at all.

How about when things don’t turn out as we have hoped and prayed?  There are many blanks we can fill in where God is silent yet remains ardent in His love for us. After sincere and concerted prayers hit brass ceilings the words “But if not” can become a phrase we can confidently live by. God remains ardent in His love toward us. However, if He chooses the fire, He doesn’t want us to embrace the mistake of fury.

When we pray specifically, and God chooses to answer in another way then let us rest in His wisdom. When we put our trust in whatever answer comes, He is able to open any barren womb, but if not, He will always be the Fourth Person walking with us in the fire.

Ken