Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day designed to honor those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy in our nation today. It began shortly after the Civil War as Decoration Day- a time to put flowers and other memorabilia at the gravesites of those who had sacrificed in memory of what they had done. Captain John Logan originally called for it to be a federal observation on May 30, 1868. A number of communities have claimed to be the first to observe the holiday, but it was Waterloo, NY that is officially named the first community to do so. In 1971, the holiday was moved to the last Monday of May in order to ensure federal employees would have a three day weekend.
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance- full of parades and ceremonies when many visit and decorate the graves of loved ones. It’s a holiday that calls for patriotic loyalty, which is good when observed with balance. This was a lesson that Israel learned the hard way. Hopefully, we can learn from their errors and do better today.
Last week, we mentioned that Deuteronomy records Moses preparing the people for his departure. Here in chapter 17, he gives instructions for when they decide to name a king. Notice he says when, not if. God knew the time would come that Israel would demand a king. He had brought them out of slavery in Egypt to form a theocracy- God is their king. But He knew they would stray and demand a king like all the other nations. He doesn’t tell them no.
Instead, God lays out the stipulations for the king when the time comes. He must come from Israel- no foreigner to rule. It’s like our rule that the president must be born a US citizen. He must not be about personal gain, specifically mentions gathering horses, especially if done by going to Egypt. He warns against collecting a lot of wives as they’ll lead the king astray. He also says to not collect an excessive amount of silver and gold. All of these were things the kings of neighboring nations were doing, all of these were things that are opposite of God’s ideal of an upside-down kingdom where the king is a servant- does that sound familiar?
The king was to make his own personal copy of the book of law, approved by a Levitical priest for accuracy, that he would then use for personal study. This would help ensure that he doesn’t pick and choose which laws he’ll follow. It would help the king to fear the Lord by knowing and doing all the law and statutes of God. It would help develop humility in the king and help prevent him from turning to the right or the left from what God has commanded. This will result in a long reign on the throne.
Now, let’s forward to the time of Samuel as he nears the end of his time to serve the Lord and Israel (read 1 Samuel 8:1-9). Samuel is starting to age and has designated his two sons to be judges in his place. Unfortunately, his sons are corrupt, willing to take bribes and pervert justice. The elders come to Samuel and demand to be given a king instead. Of course, this hurts Samuel and he prays to God, upset that the people have rejected his leadership. God informs Samuel that it’s actually Him that’s being rejected and that it’s been their pattern from the days of Egypt, time after time forsaking the one true God and pursuing the false gods of other nations. God tells Samuel to give them what they want.
Samuel warns them that they’ll come to regret this choice, but the people insist, they want a king (read 1 Samuel 8:19-22a). The people are going to get what they want.
Jump ahead a couple chapters. Samuel anoints Saul and prepares to present him as the first king of Israel (read 1 Samuel 10:17-24). Samuel reminds the people of all that God had done for them, how He had delivered them from Egypt and a number of other oppressive nations over the years. He had saved them from calamities and distresses, yet they still rejected God and demanded to have a king like the other nations.
Samuel tells Israel to come together and present yourself before the Lord and He will reveal their king. So they begin casting lots and from the 12 tribes, Benjamin was chosen. From the clans of Benjamin, Matrites was chosen, and from within the clan, Saul’s name was chosen. He was nowhere to be found! The people began to wonder if there was another man yet to come. God reveals that Saul has hidden among the baggage. Now, Saul already knew that he was to be king, yet, for some reason, he hid. We’re not told why- maybe nerves, maybe something else.
Regardless, Samuel brings Saul forth to present him to the people and Saul stands about a full head higher than everyone else. I’m reminded of going to lunch at LIS with the 5th and 6th graders. For the first few weeks, I had several boys stand up as I’d walk up and stand as straight up as they could and declare that they were definitely taller than me. Samuel points to Saul and tells the people to see who God chose to be king. It was a pretty obvious choice to them as there was no one else like him there. The people begin to celebrate, “Long live the king!”
Let’s move forward a couple more chapters. In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel gathers the people one more time before retiring as judge and leaving Saul in charge. Once again, he reminds the people of all that God had done and all the deliverers He had sent to protect them. But when Nahash, king of the Ammonites, came against Israel, they rejected God and asked for a king. An interesting side note here- as I was researching the text, I came across multiple sources that talked about how the name Nahash means serpent. Once again, just like in the garden, a serpent shows up in opposition to God and the people are more concerned about the serpent than their God.
Now that God has granted their request, Samuel calls for a sign from God to remind the people that they will still need to obey God. It’s wheat harvest time, which means that it’s dry season. When Samuel calls for thunder and rain, it could only happen via supernatural intervention. The people cry out for Samuel to pray on their behalf, recognizing that they have added yet another sin to their long list by asking for a king. Listen to Samuel’s response to their pleas (read 1 Samuel 12:20-25).
Samuel assures the people that God will not forsake them. He encourages them with the knowledge that he will continue to pray on their behalf. He reminds the people that even though they now have an earthly king, they need to continue to fear God and serve Him faithfully. The people have their king, just like the other nations.
How did that work out for them? Let’s take a brief look. Saul was later rejected by God and tormented by an evil spirit because he refused to follow directions. David, the second king, was known as a man after God’s own heart, yet we also know about a number of struggles he went through. Solomon imported horses from Egypt to provide for 12,000 horsemen, had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and gathered so much in riches that silver was as common as stone in Jerusalem- all of this in direct opposition to the stipulations we had read in Deuteronomy 17. The kingdom was split under Rehoboam- northern kingdom of Israel had one evil king after another, while the southern kingdom of Judah had more of a mixed bag with some kings bringing the people back to God before they’d fall away again. Eventually, both kingdoms are carried off in exile.
What does all this have to do with us today? Well, 2024 is an election year and there’s a lot of talk about Republican or Democrat, left or right, conservative or liberal, donkeys or elephants. How should we conduct ourselves in light of Israel’s experiences?
First, we must remember that our citizenship is in heaven and that this world is temporary (read Ephesians 2:19-22). Because of Jesus, we are no longer strangers and aliens- we have a place where we belong. We are now citizens and members of the house of God. It was built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles with Jesus as our cornerstone. Together, we are the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells.
(Read Philippians 3:18-21) We’re told that many are the enemies of the cross. Their end will be destruction because their god is their belly, they glory in shame, and their minds are set on earthly things. Sounds like Israel, rejecting God and asking for a king. We have our citizenship in heaven as we wait for Jesus to transform us from our lowly form on earth to be like His glorious form.
Next, we need to pray- for our leaders, for our nation, for our world. I was at a church where we set up a month of daily prayer together over a conference call. I had set up a daily theme for our prayer focus- like Mondays pray for the church family, Tuesdays pray for people in need, etc. One of the leaders never called in to participate. I found out that he had decided to not take part because I had set up one of the days to be praying for our local government officials and I shouldn’t expect him to pray for a US president with whom he disagreed. Mind you, I didn’t have anything about praying for the president- all of it was locally focused. Plus, I should have been able to ask him to pray for the president regardless of how he felt about him because it’s biblical (read 1 Timothy 2:1-4). We don’t have to pray for God to bless decisions they make, especially if they go against God’s mandates. We should pray for our government leaders because it can lead to peaceful lives, it pleases God, and He desires all people to come to salvation- maybe our prayers will help that happen.
It’s also a reminder that we need to uphold our values (read Proverbs 29:26). Too many people are looking in the wrong place as they expect the government to right all their perceived wrongs. You need look no further than all the protests taking place on college campuses to see this. We need to point people to God to find the justice they seek. We live this out by following what is written in Micah 6:8 (read).
Allow me to close with the lyrics of a song called Courageous by Casting Crowns. I believe it summarizes today’s message well.
We were made to be courageous, we were made to lead the way
We could be the generation that finally breaks the chains
We were warriors on the front lines standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines while our families slip away
Where are you, men of courage? You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry we will serve the Lord
This is our resolution. our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children, we refuse to let them fall
We will reignite the passion that we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors, let the men of God arise
Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God
In the war of the mind I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart and the battle of the hand
We were made to be courageous and we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous and it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous, Lord, make us courageous
Pray. Invitation- who’s your king?
