Dear Lighthouse,

            Did you know that it was not God’s original intention to have a king over His people?  With the election this week, I thought I’d point that out.  Israel chose to have a king.  Like the old saying, “be careful what you wish for because you just may get it”, they should never have opted out of God’s plan. 

            God’s original plan was to rule His people Himself.  From its very inception, the nation of Israel was led by God’s representatives – namely Moses and Aaron.  Thereafter, He led His chosen nation by prophets and judges.  By the time of the prophet Samuel, however, Israel had encountered enough foreign nations to recognize that they were different. (I Sam. 8:20)  They were not satisfied and again grumbled against and rejected God’s leadership.  True, the acting judges of the people were Samuel’s sons who were no good and just out to use their position for personal gain.  The elders of Israel cried out for a king like the other nations around them.  But God reveals the true motives behind the request.

            “And the Lord told him [Samuel]: ‘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.’”  (I Sam. 8:7-8)

            God warned them what it would mean to have a king and what he would demand.  Despite the warning, the people still asked for a king, so God allowed it. (I Sam. 8:22)  God gave them Saul.  The people liked him because he was tall.  Yep, that was what they put their confidence in – he was tall.

            So Saul fought against the Ammonites and won.  It was a great victory and he and all the people were so proud of themselves.  They held a great celebration. (I Sam. 11:15)  Then the prophet Samuel shows up again and with him the clouds gather.  In I Sam. 12 he reminds the people how they have chosen to put a king before God and then warns them of all the sorrow they are in for because of it.

            “But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’ – even though the Lord you God was your king.  Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you.  If you fear the Lord and serve and obey Him … good!  But if you do not obey the Lord …” (I Sam. 12:12-15)

            Can’t you just feel it brewing and coming to a climax?  If you read it all in context it makes it clear – God sent Samuel to the people to explain just exactly what they’ve done.  They wanted control, they wanted an earthly king, they wanted their independence from God and He allowed it – and He let them choose.  But now, the Lord underscores the seriousness of their request.  They have just edged closer to the brink of disaster.

            “Then Samuel called upon the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain.  So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel.  The people all said to Samuel, ‘Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.” (I Sam. 12:18-19)

            Samuel just warns them to continue to obey the Lord, for He is their true King. You know the story that followed.  Saul tried to be a good king, but he fell into too many snares – pride, fear, anger, paranoia.  These weaknesses even drove him to witchcraft in order to try and hold on to power.  Saul was a failure as king.

            But God, in His mercy and wisdom, chose another to succeed Saul.  He sent his prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse to meet the next king. (I Sam. 16:1)  But even the father of the future king did not recognize which of his own sons was chosen by God.  This is because God is not so fickle as Man.  He didn’t care if the next king was tall.  Even Samuel was confused.  As the sons of Jesse passed by the prophet one by one – each one Samuel thought looked like the one – the Lord said no.

            “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (I Sam. 16:7)

            Finally, all the sons had passed except the little, wiry, young, (red-headed!) shepherd boy who was still out in the field.  Apparently Jesse didn’t even bother to rein him in for this election.  But that boy was David – King David.  And you know the rest of that story.

            So, what’s the point in all of this?  The point is that no matter who wins the election for President of the United States this week they will not be able to save this country.  Neither Bush nor Kerry will make an effective savior for the woes that befall Man due to sin.  They may certainly sway the nation and speed its progress in one direction or the other, but they cannot save it.

            Only God can save the United States – and the world.  Only God has the perfect foreign policy, economic strategy, and social programs that will benefit the needy.  Only God truly has the heart for His constituents and the desire to help. 

            I think the lesson we learn from I Samuel is that God is in control because He never gave it up.  God has always been in control of all nations and all of mankind.  Israel turned away from His leadership, this was a dark hour.  But we can now benefit from their mistakes because Jesus came to save the whole world and take us all under His gracious wing.  Because their kings failed, we have a new and everlasting King in Jesus Christ.

            I do encourage you to vote.  Christians should exercise all their privileges and opportunities in our great free society.  But I caution like Samuel, be careful what you wish for…  Prayerfully consider who you ally yourself with in both civil elections and in everyday life.  Are you doing what is best for this country?  I don’t mean voting – I mean sharing the gospel of life with those around you who are dying.  Since God is in control it is us Christians who will make the difference in our country.  We must work to preserve our land by making salvation known to its people.  I guess you could say it’s our civic duty.

            So, get out and vote.  Also pray for our leaders and our nation.  Don’t look at the outward things; consider what God sees and His agenda.  But keep in mind the warning Samuel left with his audience on the stormy, rainy day when they chose their first king:

“Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

(I Sam. 12:25)

Praying with you,

Evan