Samuel's story continues. After years of faithfulness to his people, the Lord, who had been their only king, was told that it was not enough. The people realized the unique relationship that they had with their God, and they were grateful, but they were not satisfied. They wanted to keep up with the Jones' ... they wanted to fit in with their neighbors.
They came to Samuel in his old age and asked him to appoint a king over them, as other nations had, to judge them. Samuel was displeased and angry, but the Lord told him to appoint a king - for they were rejecting the Lordship of Yahweh and not Samuel's leadership. If they wanted to fit in, fine, they could have their king.
But Samuel reminded them of the flaws of earthy kings, the self centeredness, the allegiances, the demands that they would have to put up with. He reminded them that their life as they had known it would be over, and that when they realized what they had lost they would come to God to complain. "On that day the LORD will not answer you." They were of one heart and mind, and it was not with the Lord. A king was appointed. Over the years, some were good and some were bad, but things were never the same. In order to "fit in" they gave up so much - the Lordship of God in their lives.
How much do we give up to fit in? What have we lost? Is there a way to regain that precious grace? God's mercy is beyond all bounds ... but it requires a personal, intimate relationship with only one king - the Lord of Life, Jesus Christ.
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