When God Is Rejected
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders...But his sons did not follow his ways, They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “...appoint a king to lead us such as all the nations have.”
...this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their King. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods. So they are doing to you...but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights… “you will cry out for relief...but the LORD will not answer you.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel...The LORD answered, “listen to them and give them a king.” I Samuel 8.
...this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their King. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods. So they are doing to you...but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights… “you will cry out for relief...but the LORD will not answer you.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel...The LORD answered, “listen to them and give them a king.” I Samuel 8.
This is one passage of Scripture that sends shudders down my spine. The People of Israel rejected God as their King and asked for an earthly king to rule over them. God solemnly warned them that their kings would oppress them and place undue financial burdens and demands upon their lives but they did not listen. They insisted on having a king over them “ as all the other nations have.” Their hardness of heart prevailed and God allowed Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. Needless to say, many of the kings of Israel were godless and wicked. There was so much sin and wickedness that God brought judgment as Israel was finally invaded by brutal foreigners and many were sent off into exile.
The Bible declares that there is a way which seems right to man but the end of it is death.
Rejecting God never leads to life. It always leads to death. When God is dethroned from a life or a nation, the ways of man are enthroned which invariably lead to death. Life without God is simply a hopeless end. As a nation, we have consistently dethroned God from almost every aspect of life. The consequences have been devastating as we see all around us. Wickedness abounds and we have lost confidence in our human leaders.
It is time for us to invite God to lead us as a nation, but the starting point is the Church. If we as children of God repent from the many ways in which we have rejected God and stand in the Gap in sincere intercession, God will heal this land as He has promised in His word.
Would you cry out to God for mercy? Would start by examining your own heart to ensure that God is fully enthroned in your heart?
The Bible declares that there is a way which seems right to man but the end of it is death.
Rejecting God never leads to life. It always leads to death. When God is dethroned from a life or a nation, the ways of man are enthroned which invariably lead to death. Life without God is simply a hopeless end. As a nation, we have consistently dethroned God from almost every aspect of life. The consequences have been devastating as we see all around us. Wickedness abounds and we have lost confidence in our human leaders.
It is time for us to invite God to lead us as a nation, but the starting point is the Church. If we as children of God repent from the many ways in which we have rejected God and stand in the Gap in sincere intercession, God will heal this land as He has promised in His word.
Would you cry out to God for mercy? Would start by examining your own heart to ensure that God is fully enthroned in your heart?
Prayer: Dear Lord, the consequences of rejecting your word and rulership over our lives are simply too ghastly to contemplate. We ask for forgiveness as a nation. Have mercy on us and help us to turn back to you. Forgive us and heal our land. Amen.