When You Have No King

WHEN YOU HAVE NO KING

1 Samuel 8:4-10

TEXT: Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day; with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods; so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them. 10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king.

Judges 17:6,21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

PROPOSITION: To call the backslidden hearer back to a committed relation-ship with God.

INTRODUCTION:

I. WHEN YOU HAVE NO KING IT IS EASY TO LOSE YOUR DIRECTION

Application: Israel had left following God. Yes, they still participated in the worship services and sacrifices. They still gave their tithes and offered their prayers, but their hearts were far from God. As the scripture says: In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes,

Ezekiel 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.

Psalm 107:4,5 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.

II. WHEN YOU HAVE NO KING IT IS EASY TO LOSE YOUR PROTECTION

Application: Israel was a nation of independent colonies separated by dis-tance, by priorities, and by goals. Their one unifying force was their relation-ship with God. God had promised the be their shield and defender – all they had to do was to stay in the center of his will (under His protective wings if you will). They chose not to do this – and because of their decision, Israel was continually being harassed by the pagan countries that surrounded them. Because the children of Israel rejected God, He removed his protection from them:

2 Chronicles 24:20-24 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you. 23 So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had for-saken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

Application: Gods desire is to protect those who are His, but to be protected, you must abide where the protector abides.

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Psalm 91:2-11 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.