Isaiah 8:1-22
“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.” (I Samuel 8:1-3)
After judging Israel and maintaining a circuit court for thirty or forty years, Samuel was tired, and Israel was still growing. Opening another court in Beersheba made a lot of sense, and his sons could manage it. Perhaps one day they’d be able to take over his job so he could retire.
While they undoubtedly heard stories, his sons had no memory of what it had been like under Philistine domination during Eli’s day and when Samuel first became judge. Like many second generation business owners, politicians, and religious figures, they had no real clue what it had taken to get Israel to where they were. They saw it as an opportunity to enrich themselves, rather than as a calling to turn people to God. They began taking advantage of their positions, taking bribes and basing their decisions on economic and political ideas rather than on right or wrong, much as our regulators and courts are doing today.
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (I Samuel 8:4-5)
While they had no problem with Samuel himself, the people were frustrated with the injustices and corruption, Knowing that his sons were part of th problem the people decided a change was needed. Unfortunately, Like Saumel’s sons, a majority of the people had little or no memory of what it had been like before Samuel’s administration either. They decided a whole new system was required, to prevent corruption. They demanded a king.
“But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.” (I Samuel 8:6)
Like Gideon, Samuel recognized that the problem was not with the system God had designed but with the system was being use. The changes they were demanding would take away their greatest strength, their individual responsibility and freedom. It was similar to what has happened in the last couple of election cycles in the United States, pitting the older and more conservative groups against the more liberal young people. Samuel was really upset by their demand
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” (I Samuel 8:7-9)
God told Samuel that it was just part of the same pattern they had been following for over six hundred years, since he brought them out of Egypt, constantly trying to set some other god in God’s place. While God would allow them to get what they wanted and find out for themselves, Samuel was to warn them of the consequences of their action.
Since the United States was established, there has been a constant effort to eliminate individual freedom and responsibility, establishing of election cycles have placed proponents of such a system in power. Today, Christians should be playing the same role Samuel was to play, warning people of the consequences of their actions and trusting
God to have his way, rather than rebelling.
“And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. ” (I Samuel 8:10-16)
A strong central government would necessitate the establishment of a standing army, rather than depending on the individuals to unite and defend themselves. It would be necessary to collect taxes to support such an army, and to seize private property for military installations and training facilities. A bureaucracy would be needed to administer the taxes and properties, and see to it that the needs of the army were met. The strongest and bravest men would be siphoned off military service, as well as the best livestock, and food. Private property would be taken from right ful owners to reward favored officials and supporters.
“He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” (I Samuel 8:17-18)
As time went on individual rights and freedoms would be taken away by the strong central government and taxes would become so burdensome they would beg God to reduce the load, but they needed to understand it was the result of their decision, and God would leave them to live with the consequences.
“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 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.” (I Samuel 8:19-20)
Just like the majority of the electorate today, the people ignored the warnings, even becoming more insistent. They wanted a system that offered the same things as the other countries, A strong government could insure their safety and protection and enforce a legal system just as it did in other countries. The same arguments are used to justify increasing government power today, so that government will be responsible for protecting the people and enforcing the rules.
“And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.
And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.” (I Samuel 8:21-22)
Samuel prayed about the people’s demands, and God told him to acquiesce to their demands and give them a king. Conceding defeat, Samuel instructed the people to go home until the necessary arrangements could be made.
“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.” (I Samuel 8:1-3)
After judging Israel and maintaining a circuit court for thirty or forty years, Samuel was tired, and Israel was still growing. Opening another court in Beersheba made a lot of sense, and his sons could manage it. Perhaps one day they’d be able to take over his job so he could retire.
While they undoubtedly heard stories, his sons had no memory of what it had been like under Philistine domination during Eli’s day and when Samuel first became judge. Like many second generation business owners, politicians, and religious figures, they had no real clue what it had taken to get Israel to where they were. They saw it as an opportunity to enrich themselves, rather than as a calling to turn people to God. They began taking advantage of their positions, taking bribes and basing their decisions on economic and political ideas rather than on right or wrong, much as our regulators and courts are doing today.
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (I Samuel 8:4-5)
While they had no problem with Samuel himself, the people were frustrated with the injustices and corruption, Knowing that his sons were part of th problem the people decided a change was needed. Unfortunately, Like Saumel’s sons, a majority of the people had little or no memory of what it had been like before Samuel’s administration either. They decided a whole new system was required, to prevent corruption. They demanded a king.
“But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.” (I Samuel 8:6)
Like Gideon, Samuel recognized that the problem was not with the system God had designed but with the system was being use. The changes they were demanding would take away their greatest strength, their individual responsibility and freedom. It was similar to what has happened in the last couple of election cycles in the United States, pitting the older and more conservative groups against the more liberal young people. Samuel was really upset by their demand
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” (I Samuel 8:7-9)
God told Samuel that it was just part of the same pattern they had been following for over six hundred years, since he brought them out of Egypt, constantly trying to set some other god in God’s place. While God would allow them to get what they wanted and find out for themselves, Samuel was to warn them of the consequences of their action.
Since the United States was established, there has been a constant effort to eliminate individual freedom and responsibility, establishing of election cycles have placed proponents of such a system in power. Today, Christians should be playing the same role Samuel was to play, warning people of the consequences of their actions and trusting
God to have his way, rather than rebelling.
“And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. ” (I Samuel 8:10-16)
A strong central government would necessitate the establishment of a standing army, rather than depending on the individuals to unite and defend themselves. It would be necessary to collect taxes to support such an army, and to seize private property for military installations and training facilities. A bureaucracy would be needed to administer the taxes and properties, and see to it that the needs of the army were met. The strongest and bravest men would be siphoned off military service, as well as the best livestock, and food. Private property would be taken from right ful owners to reward favored officials and supporters.
“He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” (I Samuel 8:17-18)
As time went on individual rights and freedoms would be taken away by the strong central government and taxes would become so burdensome they would beg God to reduce the load, but they needed to understand it was the result of their decision, and God would leave them to live with the consequences.
“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 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.” (I Samuel 8:19-20)
Just like the majority of the electorate today, the people ignored the warnings, even becoming more insistent. They wanted a system that offered the same things as the other countries, A strong government could insure their safety and protection and enforce a legal system just as it did in other countries. The same arguments are used to justify increasing government power today, so that government will be responsible for protecting the people and enforcing the rules.
“And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.
And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.” (I Samuel 8:21-22)
Samuel prayed about the people’s demands, and God told him to acquiesce to their demands and give them a king. Conceding defeat, Samuel instructed the people to go home until the necessary arrangements could be made.
This is one of the sadest events in the history of ancient Israel - rejecting theocracy for monarchy. When I read of some of the most vile dictators in history, it is a shame that we humans have not learned the great value in personal freedom and responsibilities. Here in the UK we are fortunate that we don't have such a dictatoral Government, but nevertheless, bureaucratic red tape has strangled our freedoms in the past few decades.
ReplyDeleteA great post.
Frank.
Ps. I have nominated your blog on the Versatile Blog Award list found in the comment forum of my latest blog.
God bless.
Thanks, Frank. I appreciate both the comments, and the nomination.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if many people would willingly give up some freedom to avoid taking responsibility. Unfortunately, not taking responsibility eventually results in total loss of freedom. As you mentioned increasing red tape gradually erodes one's freedom, whether in the UK or the US. People wonder why Americans are resisting the Obama care, not realizing that in allowing government to take responsibility for our health, we are giving up our freedoms to make other choices. Sadly, the same thing happens in churches.
I like the comment about our choices leading to consequences that God will not save us out of, but rather permit us to suffer them. I have heard many people lament "why has God done this to me?" when they fail to realize that personal accountability and poor decision making have done it; not God. The residual effects of our ancestor's choices can still impact us, but God is merely giving us what we desire. We do have the tendency to resent personal accountability until that accountability is removed along with personal freedom. They go hand in hand; we have to have the one if we want the other.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ian.
ReplyDeleteSo few seem to understand that there is a principle of cause and effect, that actions result in predictable results because of natural principles God has established. It seems that people now believe they can do as they please and God is obligated to make it turn out the way they want it.
You're right that freedom requires taking responsibility for our actions. if we allow others to take the responsibility we have to give them control.