Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations. 1 Samuel 8:19, 20.
The Hebrews demanded a king of Samuel, like the nations around them. By preferring a despotic monarch to the wise and mild government of God Himself, by the jurisdiction of His prophets, they showed a great want of faith in God, and confidence in His providence to raise them up rulers to lead and govern them. The children of Israel being peculiarly the people of God, their form of government was essentially different from all the nations around them. God had given them statutes and laws, and had chosen their rulers for them, and these leaders the people were to obey in the Lord. In all cases of difficulty and great perplexity, God was to be inquired of. Their demand for a king was a rebellious departure from God, their special leader. He knew that a king would not be best for His chosen people…. If they had a king, whose hearts was lifted up and not right with God, he would lead them away from Him, and cause them to rebel against Him. The Lord knew that no one could occupy the position of king, and receive the honors usually given to a king, without becoming exalted, and their ways seem right in their own eyes, while at the same time they were sinning against God.
God had separated the Israelites from every other people, to make them His own peculiar treasure. But they, disregarding this high honor, eagerly desired to imitate the example of the heathen! And still the longing to conform to worldly practices and customs exists among the professed people of God. As they depart from the Lord they become ambitious for the gains and honors of the world. Christians are constantly seeking to imitate the practices of those who worship the God of this world. Many urge that by uniting with worldlings and conforming to their customs they might exert a stronger influence over the ungodly. But all who pursue this course thereby separate from the Source of their strength. Becoming the friends of the world, they are the enemies of God.
Conflict and Courage p. 146
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Prayer Requests
—–update— I’m out of the hospital and home. I talked with my precious daddy last night, and the symptoms I told him I have, said it sounds like AFib. Being treated for angina and now on 81mg aspirin along with blood pressure medicine to keep my heart from racing again. I’ll find out more when I see the cardiologist. Thank you for your continued prayers. God knows what is going on and I’m leaving this in His capable hands. Jan
—–My niece, Valerie, was in a car accident yesterday. She is sore, but otherwise unhurt. Please pray for her as she is caring for her three grandchildren and a husband who has a brain injury. Pray for her daughter who is unable to care for her children that the doctors will be able to give her the proper treatment. Rose
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Dear Friends,
When we had a television, I used to enjoy watching the Discovery Health Channel. In one program a little boy kept hearing noises. Finally a doctor found that he had two spiders in his ear. This reminded me of a time many years ago, when my grandmother was going about her daily routine and suddenly, she felt something very strange inside her nose. She wondered why all of a sudden she felt like something was crawling around in there. She started sneezing and sneezing, but instead of being sneezed out, a tiny bug, which had somehow been breathed in, was drawn up into her sinuses. My grandmother, who had felt fine just moments before, now felt like she had a terrible cold as her body tried to rid itself of that foreign substance. That bug must have held on tightly, because he stayed inside no matter what she did
A few days of misery followed as that bug caused a very bad sinus infection. Finally my grandmother went to the doctor. After trying several easy things to get that bug out, he finally had to remove it surgically. At last my grandmother was rid of that offending creature. Then she could heal from the infection it had caused.
Sin is like that tiny bug. Once it gets inside, it holds on even tighter than that bug did. Once we allow it even a tiny entrance, it takes over everything. We can fool ourselves into believing that we can stop sinning any time we want to. But when we try to get rid of it, we cannot. We can only say as did the apostle Paul, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Rom 7:24
Praise God! We have Someone Who is waiting to help us. He longs to save us from our sins. He wants to cleanse us before it is too late. He pleads, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11 “Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. Joel 2:12,13
Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 He “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Gal 1:4 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Therefore “we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:12-14
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