During this time Israelites were under the leadership of Samuel.
God Himself was their King, protecting them and doing their battles.
And Samuel was teaching them the word of God, giving them the right direction, leading them in the will of the Lord.
However, when Samuel grew old, Israelites began to feel the need of a king.
And instead of inquiring the Lord of His plans for them, they started to demand for a king.
'' 1 Samuel 8: 1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. ''
And when you start comparing with others, you see an emptiness in your life and start feeling insecured that you don't have one of those kinds, and thereby harden yourselves towards God that God hasn't given you people you wished, that God hasn't given you relations like everyone else have, and eventually this ends you up in depression, and you harbour bitterness in your heart towards God, because you feel you are deprived of something that others have ..
Should you need someone to deal on your behalf, just cry out to your heavenly Father ..
He will thunder at your enemies, and put them in such a panic, and chase them away beyond your sight, that even if you would carry out a search for them, you will not find them !!
Remember .. the one who is with you is called the '' Lion '' of Judah.
Let us read from 1 Samuel 8 : 1 - 9
'' 1 Samuel 8: 1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. ''
'' 1 Sam 8 : 3 - 9 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
They said to him, '' You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.'' But when they said 'Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.
And the Lord told him:
''Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
''Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.''
As we meditate on these above Scriptures, we understand how people were reasoning their demand for a king.
They saw that Samuel was getting older.
His sons are not walking in his ways, but were after dishonest gain.
And they began to feel insecure.
They looked around and saw that all other nations had a king to fight for them. And they don't have one like them !
They went to Samuel and demanded to appoint someone to lead them, and fight the battles for them.
They apparently have forgotten the way the Lord fought their battles and saved them from their enemies.
This displeased Samuel.And grieved God, who has been protecting them all through, from the day he led them out of Egypt. And as they have been doing from the day they came out of Egypt, rejecting God and going after idols, they are now rejecting Samuel's leadership.
They saw that Samuel was getting older.
His sons are not walking in his ways, but were after dishonest gain.
And they began to feel insecure.
They looked around and saw that all other nations had a king to fight for them. And they don't have one like them !
They went to Samuel and demanded to appoint someone to lead them, and fight the battles for them.
They apparently have forgotten the way the Lord fought their battles and saved them from their enemies.
This displeased Samuel.And grieved God, who has been protecting them all through, from the day he led them out of Egypt. And as they have been doing from the day they came out of Egypt, rejecting God and going after idols, they are now rejecting Samuel's leadership.
And by rejecting Samuel, Israelites are rejecting God as their King, because Samuel was leading them under God's guidance.
God even warned them that if they reject God and seek someone as their king, they would definitely be exploited by their so called king. But these people did not bother about what Samuel said and insisted for a king.
'' 1 Sam 8 : 19 - 21 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. '' No ! '' they said. '' We want a king over us. Then we shall be like all other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.''
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. ''
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. ''
When people were adamant, God granted their request.
'' 1 Samuel 12:12 - 15 '' But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ' No, we want a king to rule over us - even though the Lord your God was your king. Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God-good! But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.'' ''
In the above Scripture we can understand the mindsets and attitudes of the Israelites, who started comparing themselves with people of other nations who had kings for them.
And they were caught up in insecurity, because they don't have a king like them, and thereby hardened themselves towards God.
Let us now see go back to chapter 7 and understand the love of God and how He himself protected Israelites, when He fought the battles on their behalf.
'' 1 Samuel 7 : 7 - 13
When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
They said to Samuel, '' Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.'' Then Samuel took a sickling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel's behalf, and the Lord answered him. While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer saying , '' This far has the Lord helped us. ''
So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. ''
Dear people, as we read above, when God was leading them as their King, when the enemies attacked the Israelites, and when Samuel cried out to Him, God roused Himself against their enemies and drove them before the Israelites, creating such a panic among their enemies, that they never again entered the Israelite territories.
Not one of the Israelites fell to the ground when God fought the battles for them.
However, they rejected this leadership of Samuel and God who is their King and wanted to have a king to rule over them, like all other nations.
So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. ''
Dear people, as we read above, when God was leading them as their King, when the enemies attacked the Israelites, and when Samuel cried out to Him, God roused Himself against their enemies and drove them before the Israelites, creating such a panic among their enemies, that they never again entered the Israelite territories.
Not one of the Israelites fell to the ground when God fought the battles for them.
However, they rejected this leadership of Samuel and God who is their King and wanted to have a king to rule over them, like all other nations.
Dear people of God, as we are meditating on these Scriptures, let us introspect ourselves this hour..
Are we hardening ourselves towards God, in the feelings of insecurity and longingness for people, whom we wished we had , thinking they would be of some defense for us ?
Are we hardening ourselves towards God just because we don't have the right contacts and relationships like others, for supporting us ?
When I say right relationships, for example, a good spouse for someone who is tasting bitterness in their marital relationship..
Good contacts in professional life for someone seeking growth or a promotion in their career ..
Good parents or guardians, for those who haven't seen the true parental affection ..
Good siblings for those of us who have tasted bitterness from brothers within the family ..
Many of us might have longed to have atleast one of these when we have encountered some situations, and see that the rest of the world has them and you don't ..
Are we hardening ourselves towards God just because we don't have the right contacts and relationships like others, for supporting us ?
When I say right relationships, for example, a good spouse for someone who is tasting bitterness in their marital relationship..
Good contacts in professional life for someone seeking growth or a promotion in their career ..
Good parents or guardians, for those who haven't seen the true parental affection ..
Good siblings for those of us who have tasted bitterness from brothers within the family ..
Many of us might have longed to have atleast one of these when we have encountered some situations, and see that the rest of the world has them and you don't ..
And when you start comparing with others, you see an emptiness in your life and start feeling insecured that you don't have one of those kinds, and thereby harden yourselves towards God that God hasn't given you people you wished, that God hasn't given you relations like everyone else have, and eventually this ends you up in depression, and you harbour bitterness in your heart towards God, because you feel you are deprived of something that others have ..
Dear people, from our meditation on these Scriptures in Samuel, on how God Himself fought battles for His people, being their King, let us realise this hour, how foolish it is to make people our source of defense in our lives when we have a God who can chase away our adversaries, never again to enter our territories and make us triumph in life, comforting us like a mother comforting a child, all through our days !
In the above Scriputres, we see that Israelites were carried away by some kind of insecurity when they saw the King of Ammonites.
They started comparing themselves with other nations, and though God was their King leading them, they wanted to have a king, like of the other nations.
And though God told them of the consequences of their wish, they were adamant, and hardened themselves towards God, forgetting how God himself has been taking care of them from their enemies.
Dear precious children of God, if you don't have right people you think you probably should have had, for supporting and defending you, do not feel insecured about it.
Don't feel that you are deprived of something, but rejoice that you heavenly Father is able to provide and take care of you, far beyond any human relation..
God will himself intervene and fight on your behalf and let you triumph in every aspect of your life.
But let not your hearts turn vile towards God.
Our God is a Big God.
When he thundered on behalf of His people, the Philistines were struck with panic !
In the above Scriputres, we see that Israelites were carried away by some kind of insecurity when they saw the King of Ammonites.
They started comparing themselves with other nations, and though God was their King leading them, they wanted to have a king, like of the other nations.
And though God told them of the consequences of their wish, they were adamant, and hardened themselves towards God, forgetting how God himself has been taking care of them from their enemies.
Dear precious children of God, if you don't have right people you think you probably should have had, for supporting and defending you, do not feel insecured about it.
Don't feel that you are deprived of something, but rejoice that you heavenly Father is able to provide and take care of you, far beyond any human relation..
God will himself intervene and fight on your behalf and let you triumph in every aspect of your life.
But let not your hearts turn vile towards God.
Our God is a Big God.
When he thundered on behalf of His people, the Philistines were struck with panic !
Should you need someone to deal on your behalf, just cry out to your heavenly Father ..
He will thunder at your enemies, and put them in such a panic, and chase them away beyond your sight, that even if you would carry out a search for them, you will not find them !!
Remember .. the one who is with you is called the '' Lion '' of Judah.
NO ONE can with stand His roar and thunder !
'' Psalm 69 : 33 The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. ''
If you feel your adversaries are too strong for you, and they are too crafty and powerful, here is what our God says will do for you:
'' Psalm 68 :21 - 23 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. The Lord says, '' I will bring them from Baashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.''
Therefore dear precious children of the Most High God, make God your defense.
His promises and his faithfulness are our security, our shield and our rampart.
Do not grieve the heart of your heavenly Father by hardening yourselves just because you don't have some relationships like your neighbors'.
We have a God who will himself fight on our behalf, and carry us on his arms, even until our old age and gray hairs.
If you feel your adversaries are too strong for you, and they are too crafty and powerful, here is what our God says will do for you:
'' Psalm 68 :21 - 23 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. The Lord says, '' I will bring them from Baashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.''
Therefore dear precious children of the Most High God, make God your defense.
His promises and his faithfulness are our security, our shield and our rampart.
Do not grieve the heart of your heavenly Father by hardening yourselves just because you don't have some relationships like your neighbors'.
We have a God who will himself fight on our behalf, and carry us on his arms, even until our old age and gray hairs.
We just need to ask him.
'' Matthew 7:7,8 Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. ''
'' Psalm 68 : 32 - 35 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God ! ''
God Bless You.
'' Psalm 68 : 32 - 35 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God ! ''
God Bless You.
