The Omaha guide., 1946-03-30

ALALDh1 = AN
nation whose God Is the Lord-Psalm
33.12-
, A major crisis has come in the
life Of a nation when it is ready 10
change its form of government Thai
was especially true in the case OF
Israel. for they were about to throw
of the direct rule Of God and de-
mand 4 king.
There were good reasons for their
desire. Samuel was old. His sons
who were to succeed him were not
honest q Sam 8:3). But there were
other motives not SO good; for ex-
ample. their desire to have the
pomp of a kingly ruler and a wish
to be like other peoples ". 20.
Their request was made known 10
Samuel q Sam 8:6)- He was
grieved. but the Lord showed him
that it was not His rule they were
rejecting. but Gods rule W. D.
The matter came to a crisis as
Samuel was sent to reason with
them ". 81.
i. Prophetic Words tvv. 10-18).
There is always a price to pay if
we are eager to follow the styles Of
this world, Israel wanted to have
q king with an attractive court and
a mighty army ike their neighbors.
the other nations. but they had not
realized that such things are not
provided out Of the kings pocket
A word Of warning may be in
place here for Christians who have
fallen for the temptation to keep
pace with their ungodly neighbors-
to keep UP with the Joneses," as it
is sometimes put.
Government has a right to call on
the governed for its support. but
who will deny that the tremendous
military establishments which the
rulers Of the earth have maintained
have been both burdensome and
provocative OF war.
We live in q sinful world, and we
may dS wei LdLC Liz LCCESSlLL u
protecting ourselves and policing
the unruly. but think how much bet
ter would be our lot if we like Is
rael could have been under the
direct rule Of God.
They did not want it. Are men any
better today when they reject the
benefcent rule Of the Son of God
over their lives?
III. Persistent Wills wv. 19, 20.
The people refused to hearken.
Their stubborn reply was, Nay. but
We will have a king over US" and
n can almost hear the emphasis
on the word will.
One might have expected that the
leaders of the people would have
sensed the folly Of their plan and
asked God to continue to rule over
them forever. but the stubbornness
Of the willful human heart is al
most beyond belief. When its deter
mination is coupled with pride and
unbelief it becomes an even more
appalling barrier to the blessing
Of God.
Therein lies the outstanding lesson
Of these verses. Let US beware that
We do not sin like Israel; yes, sin
even worse than they did. Joseph
Parker in the Peoples Bible (voL
5, p. 28D makes this acute applica-
ton Of the truth: do we condemn
them? Let US not be ready with re-
preach; nor urgent in condemna-
ton. We r doing a deadlier thing
il may be than the elders of Israel
did in this case. We are told that
God is angry with the wicked every
day; that the wicked shall be driven
into he'll. and all the nations that
forget God We are told that the
liar shall have his portion in the
lake which burnett with fire and
birthstone, that no drunkard shall
enter the kingdom Of heaven. that
anything unclean. defled or corrupt
shall not pass into the city Of Gods
light; We are told that nothing re-
maIneth for the sinner but a fear
full looking for Of judgment and
fiery indignation
What is the result? Men can 20
Immediately from the hearing or
reading Of the most terrific state
ments concerning the future Of the
W1cked and can throw themselves
with unbridled license into all the
~diabolical enjoyments which stimu-
late but never satisfy the corrupt
soul"
III. P~rovidential willingness wv.
q, %.
Reluctantly. but inevitably, cone
the divine expression Of willingness
to let man 60 the way he wants to
go. Israel shall have a king. says
God In fact He had prophesied this
day long before (see Deut. II: Il
20).
So it is true Ito quote Parker
AGAIN. that I'VE can force our way
through all solemn warning, all path
etc entreaty. all earnest persuasive
ness We z go to he'll Il we
viii $50 There Is nothing before you
but love, grace, mercy, tenderness,
God That IS all There is Z cross
hew it down. There is a way around
il, z way through it, a way over it
you z get there!" !
May We, neither as individuals nor
as z nation, thus thwart Gods love
and reject His warnings, and 60 On
our own stubborn way into sin and
sOrrOW-