This summer, i've deviated from my normal summer focus on Psalms. Instead of Psalms, my small group is going through the kings of Israel/Judah during the summer. Our hope is to learn more of God, man, and Our Needed response in regard to these stories. I hope you will be reading along through the summer. If you're in the Memphis area, come join us on Sunday nights.
In America we have a statement, “Keeping up
with the Joneses.” Don’t understand? “Billy has a Batman toy, I want one too!”
Sadly, as boys age toys get more expensive… But whatever the scenario or object
we all desire what someone else has. Israel had this very problem. Let’s
remember the beginning, Israel was a Theocracy (God led government), therefore
they didn’t have a King. Ruth’s father in-law was named Elimelech (my God is King). Prior
to the appointment of kings, Israelites were proud of their God King. Israel
however, got the same “itch” that American’s get when their neighbor gets a new
toy. Israel forsakes their past, covenant, relationship and protection of the
God King, so that their emotional desire for a temporal pleasure may be
fulfilled. (1 Sam 8:5)
If you’re wondering where I’m going, You and
I do the same thing to God. In the New Testament we learn that the son of God
is named Jesus - ישוע (Yēšūă‘), or "Yahweh saves." Like
Israel, we turn to things that are temporal, who not only don’t save, but lead
to destruction. (James 1:14-15 But each person is
tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it
is fully grown brings forth death.)
Samuel in 1 Sam. 9:10-18 warns that a king will
come with consequences.
·
he will take your
sons and make them warriors.
·
he will use the
army to plow his ground and to reap his harvest
·
He will take your
daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
·
He will take the
best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his
servants.
·
He will take the
tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to
his servants. (The offering for widows)
·
He will take your
male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your
donkeys, and put them to his work.
·
He will take the
tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.
·
And in that day you
will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the
Lord will not answer you in that day.
There was an old
Southern Gospel song sung by the Cathedrals that should be a good warning for
Christians. I hope someone will “contemporize” this song one day.
·
As a
child I foolishly turned God away.
Not knowing the heartache a sinner must
face
. But God in His goodness has let me return
. To share with His children
this lesson I’ve learned
·
So with
pleasure and promises sin took control.
Leaving me dying with nothing to
show
. Gone were my loved ones and my dearest friends
. Only a Savior could
love me again
·
Sin
will take you farther than you wanna go
·
Slowly
but wholly taking control
·
Sin
will leave you longer than you wanna stay
·
Sin
will cost you far more than you wanna pay
So who do you want as King, God or Sin? – See we often
forget that there is royalty that is supposed to be in rule over us, but
instead, we choose sin.
For fun facts, check out which
Countries have left their kings. http://www.nobility-royalty.com/id59.htm
