January 26, 2024

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 5-8
Meditation Verse: 8:18

Thought

A formal government, a king and all he requires for ruling the people, judging them and fighting their battles, eventually becomes a heavy burden on the people. And invariably, the king becomes insensitive to the people and does whatever pleases himself and the rich who court him, without thought of the people who produce the materials that he needs for his wishes. Eventually, the people cry out to the Lord against their ruler, in effect because he is not the Lord. Yet the Lord has little pity on them: He gave them what they asked for. He knows what's in a man and how easily he goes astray from obedience to the Lord into slavery to his flesh. A king is no different. A king is still a man. Unless He is also God. The Lord allowed this to try to teach the people the same lesson He'd been trying to teach them, but also because He knew exactly how He would redeem it.

Application

It should come as no surprise that whatever form of government we choose, it eventually becomes a heavy burden on the common man. Government is not inclined to reduce its weight and size, but invariable grows in size. And because it is filled with men, who are easily led astray, it always trends toward injustice and oppression. It's only a matter of time. The only glimpses of hope come if the people fear God or if a ruler who fears God comes to power, then there can be a revival, but those sadly don't last. Not until Jesus comes to rule all nations. We can cry to the Lord for relief from the ungodly rulers, but we got what we asked for, a kingdom of men rather than the lordship of God. It is incredibly difficult to put an end to the government of men, but I can choose to submit myself to the lordship of God at any time, even under an evil human ruler. In fact, I must learn the lesson that God is my Master, no matter what men rule over me, and I am anyways obligated to walk in obedience to Him above any other authority.