Samuel warned the people of Israel that their desire to be like any other nation, to have a king rule over them was tantamount to a rejection of God’s rule in their lives. They would have to pay taxes and give their sons and daughters for service in the king’s court and army. But the people insisted. Samuel was upset and took the people’s wishes before God and heard him say: “Obey their voice and make them a king.”
Is it not interesting, that God, Creator and Ruler of all Nations, respects the wishes of the people? Does it not speak of the fundamental dignity we all have been endowed with by our Creator?
Well, we no longer have kings rule over us, but just a week ago the citizens of the United States chose a new President, who along with his administration and Congress and Senate will lead in the affairs of our Nation. Depending on whom you cast your vote for; you might be either elated or discouraged with the result. But the vote stands, and we now need to make our peace with the choice made, until we have the next opportunity to cast votes. With the privilege of choice comes the responsibility to live with it.
To come back to the prophet Samuel, although personally disappointed, he reminded the people of Israel that he would not cease praying for them and continue to instruct them in the good and right way. As followers of Jesus Christ this is our main job as well. Paul, the Apostle gives these instructions to Timothy, one of his young leaders; they are right for us as well:
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us–Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. (1Timothy 2:1-6, MSG)
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