We've been looking at the journey into and taking possession of the Promised Land by the people of Israel. It has been a trip full of stop and go, getting lost, and sometimes going the wrong way. The next step is found in the book of Samuel.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (I Samuel 8)
The accounts in Samuel are full of history and theology - so much so that what was once one book has been divided into to. One of the key elements is calling. God had called Samuel to accept a special place in God's plan: he was to help transition Israel from the time of the judges to that of the Kings. It was no easy task: transitions rarely are, but God enabled him to navigate that rocky road. Others were also called upon to step up and take leadership: Saul and David were both called to be King, while many others were called to supporting roles in the Kingdom. Some served well; many did not. Saul was willing to serve, but not the way God wanted. David was "the man after God's own heart", not perfect but humble, willing, and worshipful. Secondly, as we see above, there was a need for consistency. God was still being faithful to His covenant promises; His people were still bucking at every turn. They wanted a human king for all the wrong reasons, and the wrong kind of king at that. Thirdly, there is a revived interest in the ark of the covenant, representing the presence of God, the Word of God, and the memorials of the faithfulness of God. Simply put: we need to stop forgetting God. So look inside: the book of I Samuel has some great accounts. Look around you. Are you in a time of transition? What makes that obvious? What makes it seem so long and hard? What is God calling on you to do? Who else is He using around you? Family? Religious Leaders? Political leaders? Look inside the ark. What do you see that reminds you how faithful God is? Take a picture. Create a video. Post it; email it, text it. Let me see how God is working in your life and home.
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