8:4Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5"Look," they told him, "you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have." 6Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7"Do everything they say to you," the Lord replied, "for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer. 8Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them." ... 19But the people refused to listen to Samuel's warning. "Even so, we still want a king," they said. 20"We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle."
Wait, I thought that Israel was supposed to be different (a holy nation), that God was supposed to be their King, and that He would judge them and fight their battles for them. But I'll be danged if we don't do the same thing today; we make the dollar and our flesh king.
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for having any authority other than you. Lord Jesus, thank you for setting apart your Church as a holy people - may we be eager to do what is good. Lord Jesus, you are the Head of the Church, and you are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I pray that my life will honor your Kingship and advance your Kingdom. Holy Spirit, please empower me to be a servant of the King, and please deliver me from my flesh which seeks control. Please strengthen my spirit. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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