19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
1 Samuel 8:19-20 ESV
Once again, the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, are turning their backs on Him. Even after their judge, Samuel, warned them of the pitfalls of having a king, they insisted. Knowing that their request lay outside of God's will for their nation, they offered up some rationalizations to justify their request.
"We want to be like everyone else." Were the other nations laughing at Israel. Were they posting negative comments on Facebook? Why was this so important to Israel? Seems silly, but every day hundreds of people compromise they Christianity to be like others. Perhaps it is to pass along a piece of gossip or retell an off-color joke. Maybe it is a style of dress that is provocative or spending dollars on a new pair of shoes when that money is needed for that month's tithe. The need to conform is strong. We like to fit in. To be one of the gang. Too bad our desire to conform to Christ is not stronger than our desire to conform to the things of this world.
The Hebrews also justified their request with two more reasons: "that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." Interesting. Wasn't that what God was already doing for them through the office of the judge. Samson, Eli, Samuel. Yes, these judges were imperfect, but they were still appointed by God to do the very things the Israelites now wanted a king to do for them.
How often to we rationalize something new, or bigger, or better by convincing ourselves it will allow us to do more for God. But how faithful are we being with what God has provided for us now?
"I can give more to the church if I get a raise."
"A bigger house would allow us to have our Sunday school group over for fellowships."
God was providing for the needs of the nation of Israel. The Jews were living under God's ordained governmental system, but they wanted new, shiny, and different. Even after being warned, they persisted in their pleas.
In the same way today, God provides for our needs. Are we thankful or, like the nation of Israel, whining and insisting we get our way for something different that we have rationalized will be better?
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