Be careful what you ask for…

1st Samuel 8: 1-9

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[b] us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “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. 8 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. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

Quickword: Be careful what you ask for!

Five months from now on November 5th 2024, the United States will elect the person to serve as President for the next four years. I’m not here to try and persuade you to vote for any candidate, I am encouraging you to vote. This quick post really addresses what I think is the relevant question or better warning for this upcoming election; Simply stated be careful what you ask for. The political climate of the United States is definitely not one of what’s best for the nation or even compromise. We have lowered our political discourse to taking sides; you are either liberal or conservative, red or blue, republican or democrat there is no concessions. In this text, the Prophet Samuel has gotten older and his sons now are in leadership. The sons are corrupt and don’t possess the qualities of their father. The elders of Isreal come to Samuel and request that he appoint a king to lead them. Samuel does not agree but seeks God. God paraphrasing tells Samuel listen to what they say; for they are not rejecting you but are rejecting me. I think this is a warning to us today, regardless of our political affiliation; ensure as you/we elect the next president and other political leaders that we remember who God is. Be careful what you ask for? I don’t God to ever declare that I’ve rejected Him. I’m know who I’m voting for and whom I will never vote for and it’s not a hard decision for me. Regardless of the outcome, I take comfort in knowing that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Let’s pray: Dear God in Heaven, I come before your throne of grace and mercy knowing that you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. God as we make our way, let us never forget nor reject you as our God. Even now we ask that you forgive us of our sins in the name of Jesus! Amen