Hating God

Have you ever been hated on? Man that’s the worst. I’ve been overwhelmed lately with this idea that we . . . yes I say WE. . . “We the people” HATE . . . yes, HATE our King of Kings with our actions. I cannot get over how much the world hates God!! They see him as a disease. They KNOW that they cannot overcome Him, yet they furiously try to pull His strong thread from the tapestry of human history . . .and they wind up in a pile of tangled fibers forgetting that history is acutally HIS STORY. This is not beautiful. This is not fun. This is destructive. You can’t beat Him.

In a culture where our “rights” and our “opinions” and our “comforts” are worshipped, the idea of an all-powerful God is repulsive. Well . . . too bad.

I started by “devos” this morning totally unprepared . . . like a deer wandering unawares into an open field surrounded by archers. (Yes, the word of God pierced my flesh from every side and it was oh so satisfying. Oh so good. Oh so beautiful.) The word says that children are like arrows in a quiver and God pointed His only Son straight at my heart. Oh, I will never be the same.

So what did I read, you ask? Let’s park it in 1 Samuel 8. I’ve always known this to be a pivotal chapter in Israel’s history . . . but I never grasped the gravity of this chapter in the story of all humanity. This October, I’ve been embracing Pastor Appreciation Month with vigor. I do not aim to worship the godly men in my life, but I DO seek to appreciate and honor them. This past weekend, I ran the Chicago Marathon. A few hours after I finished, I could barely walk. Parker was so sweet and gentle with me and he ended up carrying me half of the way back to Moody from the Grand Lux Café. As he was carrying me, the thought crossed my mind: “Wow, we accomplish so much more when he leads sacrificially.” We would have missed the train back to Wheaton if he had not carried me. In the same way, there are times that we as a team have accomplished so much more when I respect and submit to his leadership. Does it mean that we are rockstars? NO. It means God has this whole “work-together” thing figured out. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ!

If you know me personally, you know how passionate I get about leadership, stewardship, roles in the church, and the gospel and I just gotta let you know that I am currently writing this in Einsteins . . . 16oz of black Autumn roast surging through my veins, Sara Groves blasting in my ears, yummy scripture in my belly . . . yes, this is dangerous. . . I’m sweating majorly and my eyes are starting to pop out (my indicator that caffeine limit has been reached). (I think Britt and Gerb have experienced this insanity before).

I’m unable to write this blog in one sitting so I apologize if it seems fragmented. Alrighty, so we see in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel is demanding a king. Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah were extremely lame (“took bribes and perverted justice), and the people were obviously ticked. So Israel did what most bodies of religious people do when they are discontent: they whined and demanded their personal preferences to be fulfilled. They wanted a king.

This is where I’m thinking “Ok now God is going to smite Samuel and his sons just like Eli and his two idiot sons.” (PS, what’s with the dumb duos? If there was only one son, would he have a chance of not succumbing to idiocy? Ha! Just wondering). BUT that’s not what happened at all!

And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” -(vs7-9)

This is the part in the horror film where you start screaming "DON'T GO DOWN THAT DARK ALLEY!!!" Can you hear the creepy music? I thought it was interesting that God focused MORE on Israel rejecting HIM as King than He was on the poor leadership exhibited by Samuel's sons. I think we can glean some truth from this:

1. Poor human leadership does not justify disobedience

Can we be led astray? YES (Mt 23:24). Can leaders "cause us to sin?" YES (Mark 9:42). But who was in trouble? The leaders of course but also the PEOPLE for losing sight of the TRUE leader . . the TRUE king.

So what does the LORD do? Smite the judges? Smite the people? Twist their arm into obedience? No. He gives them what they want . . .and he even warned them of the consequences. (vs 11-18). Ben said at leadership last night that essentially God was saying "You can have your king, but you'll have to pay for his castle." So what do the people say when Samuel communicates to them that having a king will bring them hardship?:

"NO! But there SHALL be a king over us, that we also myay be LIKE ALlL THE NATIONS, and that our king my judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." (vs19-20)

NO! We want our way and we want it now! WHY do God's people want to look like the world? Why do we always want to be like them? Is being set apart as a royal priesthood really that troubling?

For the Israelites . . . apparently it WAS. Living by faith is hard. Trusting an invisible God is hard. Does that mean it's wrong? Does that mean we need to find our own way and build up our own kings? . . .Sometimes that feels easier.

Then comes some of the gravest words in all of scripture:

And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and make them a king." (vs21-22)

Friends, one of the most dangerous places we could ever be is this: That we have lusted and longed for something outside of God's will for us SO MUCH that the LORD has given it to us. . . that He would give us what we want. He offered His best and we wanted something else . . .and He gives it to us . . . THAT, my brothers and sisters, is one of the most dangerous places you can be with God.

I've been there.

I've wanted something so badly that I begged the LORD for it daily, and through His Spirit, Word, and the counsel of others, He told me EXACTLY what would happen if I got what I wanted. So . . . when I got what I wanted, that is EXACTLY what happened. Astonishing!

Friends, do not confuse this sinful process with the humble, righteous process of pouring your heart out to the LORD. He hears our cries and He knows our hearts, but He does not listen as a detached counselor . . . He listens as an invested Father.

2. We start asking the "wrong things" from God when we stop asking for God Himself

Israel missed it bigtime and so do we. Here in vs 19-22 we see the FIRST separation of Church and State. Instead of living in communion with God and enjoying his protection and providence, His people decided that their protection and providence would come from men and their piety would belong to God. This was the first time God's people made a BIG statement by asking for a government hand-out instead of FIRST getting on their knees. This was the first MAJOR time God's people decided they would die on "that hill" of a certain political platform before they would die for the cause of Christ. This. Changed. Everything.

Was it the beginning of rebellion? No (it started at the fall). Was it the end of rebellion? Certainly not. But wherever it fell in the fabric of time, it was a pivotal point for God's people, and it grieved the heart of the LORD.

I'm not sure where to go from here . . . but one thing that does cross my mind is this idea of thankfulness . . .notice how God mentioned that Israel had "forsaken" him and forgotten what He had saved them from. We often like to call God our Saviour but we don't always call Him our LORD. Israel did neither.

Friends. He has brought us up out of Egypt. He has pulled us from bondage. He has broken the chains. . . why do we put them back on? And more importantly . . .why have we forgotten!? WHERE IS OUR SACRIFICE OF PRAISE? Why do we not give THANKS?! I believe a life that worships Christ is birthed in a heart of praise, a heart of thanks.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Ephesians 5:20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Thessalonians 1:2
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

1 Timothy 1:12
[The Lord's Grace to Paul] I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

"Give THANKS to the LORD for He is GOOD. His LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!" -Psalm 107:1