QT 9/9/2024 1 Sam 12:19-25, Politics is the wrong answer

1 Samuel 12:19–25 (ESV) —

19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

 

NOTE: The problem was not the asking for a king, God knew that would happen and had provided instructions in the law for that day. The real problem is that they were not relying upon God. They thought they needed a king to save them. And the problem there was their sin. God used their neighbors (enemies) to discipline them for their failure to obey his commandments. In a sense, what they really wanted was a King to protect them so that they could continue in their sinful behavior.

 

To a certain extent, we desire the same thing. A new President or new laws will not save us. We need a change of heart and that does not come from laws. Changed hearts happen when people hear the word and see the word in the witness of Christ-followers. If we look like the world, what do we really offer to the world? Nothing. Politics becomes an excuse not to do what we really need to do, which is to confess our sin, repent, and seek God.

 

PONDER:

1. Is a new president more important than a new heart?
2. There is nothing wrong with desiring new political leadership, but who am I trusting to make change in my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for changed hearts. I pray that we would confess our sin, our evil, our violence, our hatred. We need you, and yet that is the underlying dynamic -- people don't want you as their God, they want to be their own god. Father, show us our error. Break us for our good.