1 Samuel 10:9 "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day."
As Samuel is anointed king by Samuel, Samuel tells him that his dad is now worried about where he is, just as Saul thought previously. Was this because Saul knew his dad was predisposed to this, or because God made it happen. If so, why? Then Saul is instructed to go to Tabor, Gibeah, and Gilgal, because his next steps had been planned out. He was to join a group and start prophesying with them. I don't really know what that means. They were just talking amongst themselves about God? They were telling the future to each other? To the people? I don't know. Doesn't say. With the presence of musical instruments, I'd imagine they were causing a scene, and wanted to entice people to pay attention to them...
Then God changed Saul's heart. As if Saul wasn't completely on board, or was kind of unsure about this whole being king deal. And it was a big deal. Not only was he going to be king, he was going to be a man of God, with abilities sent from God. We're talking major upheaval in the life of someone who was probably otherwise destined to become a donkey-finder for hire, and an unsuccessful one at that. This change in Saul was so great, that even his friends noticed when they saw him prophesying. Admittedly, that seems like a pretty noticeable change.
At the assembly to announce Saul's kingship, Samuel again relates the message from God about how God was rejected even though it was the LORD who brought them through all their trouble and calamity and distress. This didn't appear to phase Israel, who probably thought of God as the one who got them into those calamities to begin with. "Long live the king!" They shouted. They were going to force their way through whatever it took. We'll see what happens.
Showing posts with label king. Show all posts
Showing posts with label king. Show all posts
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
1 Sa. 8: King Me
1 Samuel 8:20 "Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."
Samuel...good leader, probably. Good dad? I'm leaning no, as his sons Joel and Abijah were listed as not walking his ways, and perverting justice after they were installed by Samuel as judges. The misbehavior by Samuel's sons led to Israel's elders getting together and coming up with a good idea. And we've seen that when Israel's elders get together, only good things happen. OK, just kidding. It's usually tragic and short-sighted.
Anyway, they saw other nations with their kings, and they decided they wanted their own. Joel and Abijah were not working out, and Samuel was an old man. Samuel, as you can imagine, was offended by this. Israel didn't like him or his sons. But God came on the scene and settled him down, saying "they're not rejecting you. They're rejecting me." Which I guess is true. Israel had God. If they had tuned their hearts to God's ways, they wouldn't need a king. Israel was set up not to have a king. God's covenant with Israel's patriarchs made no provisions for kings. Not even judges. It was supposed to be all happy and nice, and descendants like the stars in the sky. Israel has had a history since the beginning to reject God.
So having this king came with its pros ("fighting our wars for us" according to the Israelites, apparently not realizing who it was all those times they utterly destroyed bigger, more well trained armies) and cons...such as having to give up control of all kinds of civil liberties, property and person. So...you give, and you take. And Samuel warned them about all the stuff they'd have to give up, but Israel was like, "It don't matta," and they demanded a king anyway. Would God give them what they wanted?
Samuel...good leader, probably. Good dad? I'm leaning no, as his sons Joel and Abijah were listed as not walking his ways, and perverting justice after they were installed by Samuel as judges. The misbehavior by Samuel's sons led to Israel's elders getting together and coming up with a good idea. And we've seen that when Israel's elders get together, only good things happen. OK, just kidding. It's usually tragic and short-sighted.
Anyway, they saw other nations with their kings, and they decided they wanted their own. Joel and Abijah were not working out, and Samuel was an old man. Samuel, as you can imagine, was offended by this. Israel didn't like him or his sons. But God came on the scene and settled him down, saying "they're not rejecting you. They're rejecting me." Which I guess is true. Israel had God. If they had tuned their hearts to God's ways, they wouldn't need a king. Israel was set up not to have a king. God's covenant with Israel's patriarchs made no provisions for kings. Not even judges. It was supposed to be all happy and nice, and descendants like the stars in the sky. Israel has had a history since the beginning to reject God.
So having this king came with its pros ("fighting our wars for us" according to the Israelites, apparently not realizing who it was all those times they utterly destroyed bigger, more well trained armies) and cons...such as having to give up control of all kinds of civil liberties, property and person. So...you give, and you take. And Samuel warned them about all the stuff they'd have to give up, but Israel was like, "It don't matta," and they demanded a king anyway. Would God give them what they wanted?
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Dt. 17: Ruling
Deuteronomy 17:6 "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness."
More warnings against other religions. God did not want to see things like Asherah Poles or sacred stones erected in Israel. Probably even if these stones were in honor of Him. Also, there is a reiteration that a sacrifice for sin had to be perfect...without defect or deformity. Only perfection could remove imperfection.
So terrible an offense to God is leading others astray that people who do so must be put to death by stoning. Can you imagine? Who ever witnessed this blasphemy was the person who was to cast the first stone. I guess that's a good rule. This probably sought to reduce the number of people who would just go around accusing people of blasphemy so they could be stoned. What a horrific way to kill. You just throw rocks at someone until they die? Horrifying.
The judges were given charge over difficult cases, and my guess is that they were Levites, so God presumably spoke through them, and issued judgment through them. It was because of this divine word that the Israelites were commanded to do exactly as the judges say, without deviating to the right or to left. Straight up. Anyone going against the judges was to be put to death.
Verse 14 is the first mention I can recall of the possibility of Israel having a king over them. But it doesn't seem as though God is encouraging Israel to appoint a king, or to ask for one. Moses just went through a whole ceremony that set Joshua up to replace him as...leader...I guess. A king had several requirements:
1. Appointed by God
2. Must be an Israelite
3. Must not acquire wealth, or return to Egypt to get more horses
4. Most not take many wives, else he be led astray
5. Had to study and learn Gods laws and decrees
Kings were in the habit of compromise and making deals, and we have already seen what happens when Israel gets together with other nations. Idolatry and immorality. That seems to be the underlying reason why God did not want a king over Israel, and set these safeguards in place to ensure that a future king did not screw with Israel. If a king followed God's laws, as verse 20 says, then he and his descendants will reign a long time.
More warnings against other religions. God did not want to see things like Asherah Poles or sacred stones erected in Israel. Probably even if these stones were in honor of Him. Also, there is a reiteration that a sacrifice for sin had to be perfect...without defect or deformity. Only perfection could remove imperfection.
So terrible an offense to God is leading others astray that people who do so must be put to death by stoning. Can you imagine? Who ever witnessed this blasphemy was the person who was to cast the first stone. I guess that's a good rule. This probably sought to reduce the number of people who would just go around accusing people of blasphemy so they could be stoned. What a horrific way to kill. You just throw rocks at someone until they die? Horrifying.
The judges were given charge over difficult cases, and my guess is that they were Levites, so God presumably spoke through them, and issued judgment through them. It was because of this divine word that the Israelites were commanded to do exactly as the judges say, without deviating to the right or to left. Straight up. Anyone going against the judges was to be put to death.
Verse 14 is the first mention I can recall of the possibility of Israel having a king over them. But it doesn't seem as though God is encouraging Israel to appoint a king, or to ask for one. Moses just went through a whole ceremony that set Joshua up to replace him as...leader...I guess. A king had several requirements:
1. Appointed by God
2. Must be an Israelite
3. Must not acquire wealth, or return to Egypt to get more horses
4. Most not take many wives, else he be led astray
5. Had to study and learn Gods laws and decrees
Kings were in the habit of compromise and making deals, and we have already seen what happens when Israel gets together with other nations. Idolatry and immorality. That seems to be the underlying reason why God did not want a king over Israel, and set these safeguards in place to ensure that a future king did not screw with Israel. If a king followed God's laws, as verse 20 says, then he and his descendants will reign a long time.
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