S ) "24 Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away."
1 Samuel 12:24-25 (NASB)
O) Earlier in this chapter, Samuel had just established that Saul was, indeed, anointed as king over Israel. Then, he laid out the reasons why it was, that the people asking for such a king was a sin against the LORD. Confronted with this truth, the people cried to Samuel, asking him to intercede on their behalf. In the above passage, we see Samuel giving a final caution. He assured the people that all was not lost. If they would repent, and put their whole allegiance with the LORD as King (as opposed to earthly kings and kingdoms), then they may still be saved. He instructed them in three things, and contrasted it with their wicked history. He said they must fear the LORD alone, and they must serve Him completely and authentically. He also said they must reflect on the miracles of the LORD. Fearing God, serving God, remembering God.
A) While the application of this warning has a different form to me, it still very much applies today. In the United States, we very much elect our leaders (in the form of presidency). Every four years, there is an urgency in our country, to try and discern (through prayer, media, or otherwise), who is best equipped to lead our country. I think in a lot of ways, we Christians place too much emphasis on our presidential election. Clearly, as we read the story of Saul's ascension to the throne of Israel, we read that God is not impressed by the majority system. In my cross-section of culture (that is, the Christian-American), there tends to be a lot of pride and value placed on the democratic process and republic government. First and only, I must fear the LORD, serving Him completely. I don't think there is any problem in patriotism, per se. I don't think it is wrong to be involved in politics, or to be the beneficiary of government programs. I pay taxes (and receive tax credits), I am glad to pay for public education (although we homeschool our kids). I am thankful to have law enforcement and fire departments. I vote prayerfully. But, all of that must be secondary (at best), to my fear of the LORD, my servitude toward Him, my worship and praise of His ways. The Bible makes it very clear, that governments rise and fall, circumstances change dramatically even within a single generation. The only thing that will preserve me in hope, through every tribulation, will be my complete devotion to Jesus Christ. In that, I will never be swept away.
P) Father, You are my only source of security. My life is in Your hands, because You alone are completely sovereign. I know that if You bar the way, none can cross, and if You will for something to happen, You can intervene to make it happen. I know that I must continually seek Your will alone, and concern myself with obedience to You, devotion to You, and worship to You. Help me to lay aside the worldly concerns that the media tries to put on my shoulders. Help me to set aside my own fleshly desire to orchestrate circumstances to, what I think, is my best advantage. I am woefully shortsighted. I have imperfect perception. Let me seek You and Your kingdom, first and only. Open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear, and let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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