1 Samuel 8:1-9:10
Israel’s demand for a king did not arise from love for God. It was motivated by human pride (8:5,20). Having ‘rejected' the Lord as King, the people made their choice. They did not choose for God! They ‘chose for themselves’(8:7,18). God allowed them to have their king but He did not approve of their choice (22,18). Humanly speaking, Saul was well qualified (9:2). There was, however, something tragic about Saul’s reign. From the very outset, it was rushing headlong to its inevitable outcome: ‘I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly’(26:21). ‘He gave them what they asked, but He sent a wasting disease among them’(Psalm 106:15). Saul did more harm than good. There was not much blessing during Saul’s reign. God had greater things in store for Israel - but not until Saul’s reign was over!
1 Samuel 9:11-10:16
The Lord is King: We must never forget this. A human king is no substitute for the divine King (8:7). God was not pleased with His people. They wanted to be ‘like all the nations’(8:5). God refused to abandon His people. They wanted a king. He gave them their king (15-17). He would wait patiently for His people to make a whole-hearted return to Him. The Lord would wait patiently until ‘a man after His own heart’ would rule over ‘His people’(13:14). A human king must never forget the divine King. He must not become ‘too big for his boots’. He must not impose his own will. He must submit to God’s will. This is what it means to be ‘a man after God’s own heart’- ‘Not my will but Thine be done’, ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’(Luke 22:44; Matthew 6:10).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
Israel’s demand for a king did not arise from love for God. It was motivated by human pride (8:5,20). Having ‘rejected' the Lord as King, the people made their choice. They did not choose for God! They ‘chose for themselves’(8:7,18). God allowed them to have their king but He did not approve of their choice (22,18). Humanly speaking, Saul was well qualified (9:2). There was, however, something tragic about Saul’s reign. From the very outset, it was rushing headlong to its inevitable outcome: ‘I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly’(26:21). ‘He gave them what they asked, but He sent a wasting disease among them’(Psalm 106:15). Saul did more harm than good. There was not much blessing during Saul’s reign. God had greater things in store for Israel - but not until Saul’s reign was over!
1 Samuel 9:11-10:16
The Lord is King: We must never forget this. A human king is no substitute for the divine King (8:7). God was not pleased with His people. They wanted to be ‘like all the nations’(8:5). God refused to abandon His people. They wanted a king. He gave them their king (15-17). He would wait patiently for His people to make a whole-hearted return to Him. The Lord would wait patiently until ‘a man after His own heart’ would rule over ‘His people’(13:14). A human king must never forget the divine King. He must not become ‘too big for his boots’. He must not impose his own will. He must submit to God’s will. This is what it means to be ‘a man after God’s own heart’- ‘Not my will but Thine be done’, ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’(Luke 22:44; Matthew 6:10).
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
