Israel Insists

So, back to 1 Samuel and our discussion of Saul and David.  The question of we’re headed toward is, “What was such a big deal abot Saul’s sin?”  (the “u” on my keyboard isn’t working so well and I’m pretty stubborn about not going back and revising these posts, so if there are some u’s missing, fill in the blank.  We might be talking abot “Sal” a lot, hahaaa).  Anyway, for those of you not familiar with the gist of the story, here we go.  Before we get to the question of Saul’s sin, we first want to see how Saul got to the throne in the first place.

Saul was Israel’s first king, a head taller than anyone else, and good-looking. According to studies the two key characteristics for successful leaders in the world are 1) height and 2) physical attractiveness. (Sad but true)  Sal (did you mentally stick the “u” in?)  had both going on. 1 Samuel 9:2 says, “There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.”  Did you catch that?  Not just handsome. The most handsome man in Israel.   He was a supermodel material.   And the nation of Israel was thrilled to have Mr. Calvin Klein himself leading them onward. I think we miss this little point when we read quickly through this account. Why does it matter?  Because they and subsequently you and I are really influenced by status, looks, charm.  In essence, we’re a whole lot like the world.  And it’s good to remember that while we no longer wear sandals and offer animals on rock altars, things haven’t changed a whole lot since the days of Saul.  The beautiful people still rule the world.  Saul was a celebrity.

The whole reason for wanting a King was so that they could be like the nations around them (1 Samuel 8:5). In fact, they decide Samuel’s no longer a good man for leading them because he’s too old.  Translated into Today’s Version:  “Samuel, you are old news and nobody is ruled by judges anymore and your sons did a garbage job of it anyway (which they did).  The new thing is to have a KING, that’s the thing to do.  We want someone new, attractive, successful, so that not only will we be like the nations around us, we’ll be cooler!”  Sound frightningly similar to how a lot of our churches choose their pastors and staff?  Or perhaps at least we can admit that that’s our default mode.  The coolness factor, the status symbols, the keeping up with the Joneses of the world.  We do it.  Celebrity status still rules, even occasionally in the church. 

So even though God warns them that having a king is not all it’s cracked up to be (1 Sam 8:10-22), they insist that’s what they want: “Tthe people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, that we may also be like all the nations” (vv19-20).  OH Lord protect us from insisting on our own way!  When You warn us, by giving us checks in our heart or by showing us a different path, or by sending us signs, when you do this, please by Your grace keep us from insisting.   I sometimes wonder how often God simply gives me what I am insisting upon in my heart.  God is such a gentleman, never forcing Himself upon us.  And I wonder how often He’s simply saying, as He did in verse 22 when He commanded Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.”  Oh Lord, please do not obey my voice!  It is a sad day indeed when God obeys the voice of a people who demand their own way. 

What do we insist upon?  Perhaps we don’t vocalize it, but the commentary is telling.  The people wanted a tall, attractive King because that would give them status in the eyes of the surrounding nations.  They were deceived into thinking that those qualities would ensure a happy Kingdom…that beauty somehow created peace. How sadly mistaken they were. 

What do I insist upon?  Am I deceived into thinking that a beautiful home will ensure peace?  A beautiful family?  A well-put-together life?  How am I influenced by the philosphy of the world? My prayer is that God would not obey my voice when I stomp my foot and demand my way, but that He’s soften my heart and graciously allow my lips to utter, “Thy will be done.”