Control - When I Make Poor Choices - 1 Samuel 8 and 12 - June 27, 2010

Bible Study – Control – When I Make Poor Choices – June 27, 2010

This is the final lesson in our series “God Is Still in Control.”

Our scripture is 1 Samuel 8:6-9; 12:13-25.

When I make poor choices, GOD is still in control. That is a profound but true statement. GOD allows HIS children to make poor choices to help them grow and mature in HIM. This was true in the lives of the Israelites. This is a transition lesson in the journey of the Israelites from the rule of judges to the rule of a king. This transition sets up the ultimately transition from GOD ruling from the outside of HIS people’s lives to ruling from the inside of their lives though faith in CHRIST and the indwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT. This has been GOD’S plan from the beginning; CHRIST ruling the hearts and lives of all who accept HIM as their SAVIOR and LORD through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.

The Israelites wanted a king to rule them.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 8:6-9:
6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the Lord. 7 But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king. 8 They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to Me,[4] LXX; MT omits to Me since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning Me and worshiping other gods. 9 Listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and tell them about the rights of the king who will rule over them.”

Samuel had led the Israelites to victory and they had recaptured much of the territory they had lost to the Philistines under the leadership of Samuel. Yet, the Israelites wanted a king. Samuel considered their request sinful. Some think that Samuel allowed his ego to get in his way which resulted in this outburst. After all he had led the Israelites to victory so why did they want a king to led them? Of course, Samuel had it right. It was sinful and GOD put it in proper perspective for Samuel. “They are not rejecting you, they are rejecting ME.”

Did the Israelites want to be like everyone else who had a king as their national figure? Were they seeking to distance themselves from GOD by having a king between them and GOD? Were they looking for someone else to be accountable to GOD besides each of them as a nation? I am inclined to believe they did not want to be accountable to GOD. Samuel held them accountable to GOD but if they had a king, the king would be accountable to GOD and they could live as they choose, of course within reason “wink, wink.”

GOD knew the hearts of these people and told Samuel about how they rejected HIM, even in the midst of mighty miracles when HE was delivering them from Egyptian bondage and slavery. Some people just cannot cut it when hard times come. They blame everything on GOD. Yet GOD was trying to guide them to the Promised Land. Was it difficult? Yes. GOD never said it would be easy. When we face difficulties in life, it is often darkest before dawn. Just know that GOD never forsakes HIS children or abandons them in the midst of a storm.

The point GOD was making was simple, HE was not through leading the Israelites. The problem was, they were through with HIM as their leader. Yet, HE still had a plan for them. As Christians we do the same thing. We get tired of following GOD. It becomes mundane. We become restless and want something different. So we choose to go our own way and it leads to trouble. Why does GOD allow us to do that? Simply, it is to teach us a lesson. GOD did not make us robots. All Christians have freedom of choice just as the Israelites. Who do we choose to lead us – the HOLY SPIRIT, the flesh, the crowd, our habits or any number of other things?

When I have asked people if they were Christians, most say yes. I ask them where they attend church. Many times the answer is, “Well, I used to go to church but I had a falling out with so-and-so and I don’t go anywhere.”

That says it all. They were looking for an excuse to drop out of church. The church is brick and mortar and subject to many frailties. If your heart is right before the LORD, then you will have the desire to seek Christian fellowship and spiritual growth and maturity. Often many Christians walk around looking for an excuse to stop serving CHRIST. Do not allow that to happen to you. Satan wins and you lose.

GOD challenged Samuel to tell the Israelites what they would be forfeiting if they had a king. When you choose to stop following the leadership of the HOLY SPIRIT in your life you choose to follow another. WHO has your best interest in mind? GOD!!! And never forget that. And even when you think you have escaped GOD, HE is still in control.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 12:13-19:
13 “Now here is the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Look, this is the king the Lord has placed over you. 14 If you • fear the Lord, worship and obey Him, and if you don’t rebel against the Lord’s command, then both you and the king who rules over you will follow the Lord your God. 15 However, if you disobey the Lord and rebel against His command, the Lord’s hand will be against you and against your ancestors.[20] LXX reads your king [21] Lv 26:14–33; Jos 24:14–27 16 “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.[22] Ex 14:13 17 Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord and He will send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.” 18 Samuel called on the Lord, and on that day the Lord sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.[23] Ex 9:23–25,31; 1 Kg 18:37–39; Pr 26:1 19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”

We fast forwarded to after King Saul has been chosen by GOD to be king. Notice that GOD is still in control. HE chose Saul who would serve until David became king.
Notice that even when you are chosen by GOD, things are not easy. Poor David had an awful time. This is why GOD gave us these stories in HIS Word to show that walking with HIM and serving HIM is not for wimps but to trust HIM to the conclusion.

GOD made it clear that if both the people and Saul committed their lives to HIM, they would do well. However, if they did not, then they would learn that GOD would be against them. They thought they had escaped being accountable to GOD. But they just made it more complicated because if the king led one way and GOD led another, who would they follow? They had only one choice as far as GOD was concerned, they must follow GOD.

Samuel reminded the Israelites that they had sinned by asking for a king. However, GOD was and will always be their king. To confirm that they had made the wrong choice by asking for a king, GOD would demonstrate that HE was still in control. If HE was still in control, the Israelites needed to obediently serve HIM. GOD demonstrated HIS power and authority through thunder and rain.

Let’s pause for a minute. The people had requested a king. Samuel told them it was a sin but GOD told Samuel to grant their request. The fact that their quest for a king went forward, the people did not reconsider their request. GOD granted it. GOD chose their king. Just because GOD grants us what we request does not mean we have asked for the right thing. So be very careful what you ask for, you might get it and it is wrong. Always know that HE is still in charge.

Samuel told the people that GOD would confirm that they had made the wrong request and they were still accountable to GOD. It was harvest time for wheat. Barley was harvested during April and May. Wheat was harvested in June. The rainy season came in October and November and February and March. So a rain in June was special and not a sign of good fortune. It was a sign that GOD was not pleased. So Samuel prayed and the rains came in June during peak harvest. The rains wet the wheat which made the wheat hard to cut, gather, bundle, haul the bundles off because it was wet and muddy. This was not a situation for praising GOD for HIS blessings but rather one of, “LORD why?”

The people knew that they had angered GOD. So they asked Samuel to pray to “his” GOD. Wow, they knew GOD had abandoned them or at least thought HE had. How did Samuel handle this situation? Let’s see.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 12: 20-25:
20 Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart. 21 Don’t turn away to follow worthless[24] LXX reads away after empty things that can’t profit or deliver you; they are worthless.[25] Isa 44:9–20; Jr 2:8,11; Hab 2:18 22 The Lord will not abandon His people,[26] Jos 7:9; Ezk 36:22–28 because of His great name and because He has determined to make you His own people.[27] Dt 7:6–9; 1 Pt 2:9 23 “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.[28] 1 Sm 7:5–9; Nm 21:7; Rm 1:9–10 I will teach you the good and right way. 24 Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you.[29] Dt 10:21; Ps 103:2–14 25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”[30] 2 Kg 17:6–7

Samuel gave the Israelites assurance that GOD was full of grace. When you acknowledge your sin, repent and ask for forgiveness, GOD forgives. Proof that your heart has changed are your actions. Worship GOD, turn from those things you know HE hates and considers worthless. Know that GOD never abandons HIS children because HE holds the covenant HE made with HIS people as permanent.

When we study the Old Testament, it is replete with the assurance of GOD’S love and care for HIS chosen. As Christians, we have been saved by the precious blood of CHRIST and we are in covenant relationship with GOD through CHRIST. In fact, HE takes salvation one step further, as Christians we are born into the family of GOD through the miracle of rebirth. The new covenant relationship is through the shed blood of JESUS and that relationship results in son-ship or daughter-ship with GOD through HIM. Christians are GOD’S children. That is a permanent relationship.

Samuel promised the Israelites that he would pray for them. Samuel took prayer as a sacred responsibility because he represented GOD. Every Christian represents GOD to the world. Pray for the world, fors those who need salvation and as GOD leads you to pray. Praying for others carries a responsibility. Just as we have studied, the Israelites wanted a king but GOD was not ready for them to have a king. Yet, they wanted a king and GOD told Samuel to grant their request but also to let them know the consequences of their request. GOD may grant our request but the consequences of a request outside the will and purpose of GOD will forever loom over us. GOD told the Israelites that they must keep their eyes upon HIM, follow HIM and obey HIM and HE would guide them even though they wanted a king. Their responsibility to obediently serve HIM never changed.

But it is easy to forget. Seek GOD’S will first and seek the fullness of HIM in your lives and build an intimate relationship with HIM. When you are in relationship, you are always in HIS will. Always know that GOD is still in control, even when you make the wrong choices and when you least expect it. Blessings to all.