BEWARE VIEWING HUMAN GOVERNMENT AS THE ANSWER
When Samuel was getting old, the people of Israel came to him, asking for a king. The request displeased Samuel, so he went to the Lord with it. The Lord told him to give them what they want, for they had not rejected Samuel, but they had rejected God as their king. The people wanted to be like the other nations and have a human king over them to care for them and to fight their battles. Of course, like children, they didn’t know what they were asking for. Samuel tried to warn them, saying the king would take their wealth and lands and make their daughters slaves, and draft their sons for war, but they would not listen.
We must take heed to Samuel’s warning today. For this generation looks more to the government, than to God for its answers. But the government cannot take care of us and fight our battles for us without first taking our wealth, our homes, our sons and daughters, and our freedom from us. We must beware looking to any human government as our god.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we look to You as our King and our Judge. You are the One who fights our battles and provides for us and protects us. Forgive us when we look to another for help. At the same time, we want to obey Your Word which teaches us to pray for our human kings and governors and to make it easy for those who oversee us. Guide us in this O Lord. For we need Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.