In once intimate relationships where trust is growing tenuous, love, based on self-satisfaction is fleeting, and faith in each other is fractured because of envying what other people have in life; trouble is forthcoming.  The judgment hammer falls cruelly when the one breaks the silent tension with; “It’s not you, it’s me.”

We humans use this to avoid further confrontation while ending the relationship. We don’t want rebuttals; we just want to walk away because that is easier. We don’t want to hear what we are doing wrong; nor do we want to list why we don’t want to be with someone any longer. Most times we don’t know what is wrong; we just want to be right. We also don’t want to know the truth. We are lazy in relating. We humans have become weak in our relationships with God and with each other.

But when God says it…Be still and listen!  As Samuel grieves over the request of the elders for a king, God says, It’s not you; it’s Me they are avoiding.  This is a gamechanger of thinking for Samuel who thinks God’s people are only dissatisfied with him because of his disobedient and unruly sons.  But that is only part of the reason for wanting a king.  Yes, Samuel’s son are evil; but God gets to the root of the problem—“Samuel, it’s ME my people are rejecting.”  They want a king they think they will be able to manipulate. They want to be “like other nations” who have kings to rule them without Me. 

God’s final answer:  “Give them a king but tell them what this king will demand of them.”  The people still want what they want—a king.

Truthfully, it’s scary when God gives us what we demand even though God knows exactly what we really need—Him!  Centuries later, God will give His People the King of kings and Lord of lords, His One and Only Son, Jesus who will take away all their sins and supply all their needs. Most will reject Him, too. It’s not you; it’s Me.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”—Jesus, said to his sent-out disciples. Luke 10:16

Read, pause, prayerfully allow God’s Holy Spirit lead us as we continue…

1 Samuel 8

Israel Asks for a King

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. ² The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. ³ But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

⁴ So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

⁶ But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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. ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

¹⁰ Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ¹² Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

¹⁹ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 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.”

²¹ When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. ²² The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I have trouble with some of my believing friends who pray with demands to God such as, “I believe it so I will receive it”, meaning “what I want God, you have the power and must give it to me”.  Yes, God has all power, authority, and ability to do the impossible—but it is seems to me we are arrogant to demand it.  I don’t have the right to demand of God what I want but I do have access to the Father to come and humbly bow before Him and ask Him what HE wants—for and from me, in our growing intimate relationship!

Our Perfect Example:

Jesus prayed passionately to God the night before willingly and obediently laying down His life on a cruel cross to die for our sins; “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”—Jesus, Luke 22:42 

Jesus is displaying humility before God:  NOT my will; but YOUR will be done. (See also Philippians 2)

In our walk with God; humility is what is required. (Micah 6:8) Jesus said and did only what the Father told him to say and do, according to the Gospels.  Jesus prayed to God asking what He wanted him to do next; then he obeyed. 

Take notice!  In the verse that follows Jesus’ request of God’s will be done in submission to God; “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Luke 22:43 Where God guides; He provides His strength to complete His work in and through us. This Truth is displayed in Jesus. It’s not you or me—It’s God we love, follow, trust, and obey.

Israel demonstrates that our desire to imitate the world may seem righteous at first, but the final result will be destruction. Pleasing the Lord wasn’t the priority in the people’s minds; they wanted guaranteed protection against their enemies. They wanted someone to judge them and fight their battles; someone they could see and follow. They found trusting an invisible God and obeying His wonderful commandments far too demanding. Do we?  Stay tuned…our education in relating to God and others has just begun!

Are you, like me, growing weary of “they” think and what “they” do around us? Maybe it’s time to quit spending useless time wanting to know more about who “they” are and what they want from us.  Maybe it’s time to take a long, hard, focused look at our King, Jesus who we say is our Savior and Lord!  Who cares what “they” think? What matters is what your Maker thinks!  What matters most is attending to the most important relationship we will ever have and need with humbled thanksgiving for the One who saved us and set us free!  It’s me who is standing in need of the One who loved me first.  It’s me who must realize nothing is hidden from God. God knows all hearts and loves us still.  In fact, “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

We will learn later from Samuel more about who God is and how He works.  Samuel seeks God’s will when choosing the next king. God decided on one who others have rejected. “They” will not get their way. Samuel lays God’s truth on them: “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1Samuel 16:7).

How deeply do we care about fitting in and being like the world? What are the areas of our lives that blend in with those around us and make us feel “less than” holy?  We have full access to the Father for His wisdom, help, and strength!  Let us ask God to give us the courage and conviction to stand apart from “they” who do not.

Lord,

Thank you for telling your story through the life of Samuel who loved you and was born to serve you.  Thank you for his committed heart in relationship to you as our example to follow. Through you, dear Jesus, we have access to the throne to ask for your wisdom.  Because of You, Jesus removing our sins, we now come boldly and confident to you for direction and correction.  May your will be done in my life. May our relationship continue to grow because of your infinite, intimate love for each other.  It’s me who needs you.  It’s You who rescues and delivers me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are my King!

In Jesus Name, Amen