Today I read 1 Samuel 12 where Samuel talks to the people and tells them all that they have done and how despite all their many sins they have already committed, that asking for a king is just one more that is added on top of that. He asks the people what liberties he has taken with them and how he has treated them and if it was poorly. All Israel acknowledges that Samuel has been fair and never taken anything that didn't belong to him or abuse his power and position.
Poor Samuel, I can imagine that he probably feels pretty angry at Israel and their desire for a king. I wonder if he felt like he should have done more or could have done more for the people and if perhaps if he had been a better judge would they have desired a king as strongly? Or maybe he understood perfectly well their unrighteous desire for a king. Maybe he had righteous anger, like the Lord, at this request and that is why he called down a thunderstorm in the middle of their harvest to show the Lord's displeasure. Like so many things we don't know and will find out one day I am sure. One thing we know for certain, Samuel was in good standing with the Lord and was a righteous ruler, God would not have honored his request for a thunderstorm otherwise. Until tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment