“Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways, now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Sam. 8:5)
Israel was a peculiar nation with an unorthodox system of government. Their king and lawgiver was Jehovah, and there was no standing army, no military leaders, and no bureaucracy beyond that. Judges were raised up when needed, but only when necessary and God decided when was necessary.
This odd system of government came with many wonderful advantages – very low taxes, minimal government intrusion in your life, personal accountability was emphasized, and the simple patriarchal family structure was glorified.
It only had one downfall – it didn’t look like the other nations. They were odd and it was embarrassing to them. Everyone else has a king and a fancy army, why are we always left out.
So the nation pouted like a giant child and got their king and gave up their blessings and rejected their God.
And today, our churches do the same thing. Everyone else has a fancy worship team and sound system. Everyone else has a fancy clergy with fancy clothes and fancy titles. Why are we always left out? We literally walk away from God’s system for His church because we are embarrassed that we don’t fit in to mainstream religion. We are jealous of them and their religious confusion built upon money, popularity, prestige, and the commercialization of God.
Be weird; be simple Christians.
“Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. (1 Sam 8:7)
Matt. 4:4 #Biblebites