Many parts of the scriptures make my heart so sad. Especially those portions of God being rejected. Take 1 Samuel 8 for instance. Israel rejected God as King because those put in the position of leadership ignored the righteous Judgments God had set up for Israel, causing a domino effect that rested squarely on God’s lap, as He received all the blame. Nothing is in itself of itself, for as the Father is one with the Son and the Spirit, so our actions are tied to the lives of others.
Samuel was a righteous Judge over Israel, but was growing old, and had appointed his 2 sons as Judges over Israel. Verse 3 NLT says, “But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.” And so, the Israelites rejected these crooked Judges and demanded a King to rule over them. In doing so, they were also rejecting God who had led them into the prosperous life that they had come to enjoy.
It seemed to me that rejecting the Lord God was already in their heart; it was their intent all along. They were looking for a reason, and these Judges provided them with the opportunity they desired. For why didn’t they reject those Judges and appoint new Leaders? Why reject God if the issue wasn’t Him or His Judgments? How did it get from an unfaithful man doing wrong to “we no longer want God to lead us?” It is true that out of the abundance of the heart sin is conceived, and the mouth speaks it.
Another lesson we see from this account is that a person could live a lifestyle that pleases God, yet their children, who were under the direct influence of that righteous example, could turn out differently.
Isaiah 26:9 tells us, how the world would change if God’s righteous Judgments were to be applied today. It says, “For when God’s Judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” God’s Judgments respects no man. The rich, the poor, the young, and the old, were to be judged by one set of unbiased standards, and no one had to fear when these Judgments were used. I long so much for the fulfillment of this scripture on the earth today.
I think it is safe to say, that things have not changed from the ancient days. In fact, it has grown significantly worst. Israel was the template that God used to show us that church and government should be governed by one set of righteous standards. Today, that is no longer the case, as Government lives by standards that have nothing to do with righteousness or morality.
The world looks to the Church now. But sadly, the ways of the world have crept into the Church and is spreading like yeast. So, although the Church should be a reflection of God; holy, righteous, and just, it no longer looks that way. Increasing reports are, that men and women like Samuel’s sons; corrupt, perverted, having no fear of God, and looking for wealth, are causing many in and out of the church to reject God as Israel did. A wise man once said, that there is nothing new under the sun.
Even if we don’t know God personally when we speak of Him as if He is our God people see us as an extension of Him. And since every action carries with it a chain reaction, we must remember that a man’s unrighteous acts, still have a domino effect on the lives of others even if it is not seen in his life.
A little nugget. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. You will know them by their fruit!
I’m Just Sayin!