The midland journal., 1946-03-29


MEMORY SELECTION - Blessed Is the
nation whose God Is the Lord.-Psalm 1912.
A major crisis has come In the
life of a nation when il is ready to
change its form of government. That
was especially true in the case Of
Israel, for they we're about to throw
off the direct rule of God and de-
mand king.
There were good reasons for their
desire. Samuel was old. His sons
who were to succeed him were not
honest Il Sam. 8:3). But there were
other motives not so good; for ex-
ample, their desire to have the
pomp of kingly ruler and wish
to be like other peoples ". 20).
Their request was made known to
Samuel II Sam. 8:6). He was
grieved, but the Lord showed him
that it wins not His rule they were
rejecting, but Gods rule ". y.
The matter came to a crisis as
Samuel was sent to reason with
them ". 81.
1. Prophetic Words (vv. 1919.
There is always a price to pay II
we are eager to follow the styles OF
this world. Israel wanted to have
king with an attractive court and
mighty army like 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 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 a sinful world, and we
may as well face the necessity of
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
beneficent rule of the Son of God
over their lives?
III. Persistent Wills (vv. 10, 20).
The people refused to hearken.
Their stubborn reply was, MAY, but
we will have king over u.s." and
one 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 it's 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.
6, p. 287) makes this acute applica-
tion of the truth: "Do we condemn
them? Let us not be ready with re-
proach; nor urgent in condemna-
ton. We are doing a deadlier thing
it may be than the elders of Israel
in IN tO1I 90
God is angry with the wicked every
day; that the wicked shall be driven
into hell, and all the nations that
forget God. We are told that the
liar shall have his portion in the
lake which burneth with fire and
birthstone, that no drunkard shall
enter the kingdom of heaven, that
anything unclean, defiled or corrupt
shall not pass into the city of Gods
light; we are told that nothing re-
maineth for the sinner but fear
full looking for of judgment and
fiery indignation.
"What is the result? Men can 90
Immediately from the hearing or
reading of the most terrific state
mentS concerning the future OF the
wicked and can throw themselves
with unbridled license into all the
diabolical enjoyments which stimu-
late but never satisfy the corrupt
SOUL"
iii. PrOvidential willingness (vv.
81, 22).
Reluctantly, but inevitably, comes
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. IT: IA
20).
So it is true Ito quote Parker
again) that ''we can force our way
through all solemn warning, all path
etic entreaty, all earnest persuasive
ness We can 60 to hell if we
will =. There is nothing before you
but love, grace, mercy, tenderness,
God. That is all. There is a cross
hew it down! There is a way around
it, way through it, a way over it