Re: Verse reading—1 Samuel 9 & 10 (day seven)
1 Samuel 10:19 is ominous: But you have today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, ‘No, but set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.”
Israel’s rejection of God allowed a move toward their own plans. They desired a human king in God’s stead. God delivered them from Egypt, but now they wanted distance between themselves and their creator. On the surface it seems outlandish, but our tendency is to assume that we can handle life on our own when things are smooth.
A calm day gives us an illusion of personal strength we believe deep into the coming chaos. Our only way out of self-inflicted free fall is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true king. Jesus is God’s chosen one to give us the leadership we need to thrive in this life. Unlike Israel, Christians reject their own plans, and submit fully to the King of the Kingdom of God.
We all have the tendency to assume that we can handle life on our own when things are smooth. Sometimes, as human beings, we make choices, going our own way to satisfy someone else’s desire, or going against an established structure to satisfy our ego because we don’t think there will be consequences for disloyalty or unfaithfulness. We have the tendency to take for granted of God’s love, generosity, and forgiveness; and as the result, may make choices that are against God’s will.
I believe that building real connections with God will help us better understand who God is and what God wants for us to accomplish on earth for His glory and for our own joy, peace and happiness. Being loyal and faithful to God helps us minimize self-inflicted wound mentally, socially, physically and spiritually. God is our creator so we will always be dependent on Him. God created each of us in His own image and the surroundings in which we live. He operates the earth and has the power and authority over us and the earth so we can never be totally independent without Him. Leaning on our own understanding to make decisions will be fatal!
We can go our own way to satisfy someone’s desire or to satisfy our own ego but God’s way is the only way for long lasting joy, peace and eternity! Why we waste our time and efforts to pursue our own path independently of God when we know that God owns us and the world in which we live. Our chosen path is temporary; God’s chosen path for us is permanent.
Unfaithfulness and disloyalty to God, our creator, are self-punishment! Rejection and rebellion to God’s established social order and established leadership pipelines always come with a cost. I am convinced.