1 Samuel 10:17-27
Samuel presents Saul to the people of Israel as their new king. Before that though, he delivers a message about their history. He reminds them that God delivered them from Egyptian oppression. He reminds them that God had a history of getting them out of all sorts of trouble. He also reminded them that God gives them whatever they want. This is going to be a common theme. Whatever the people want, they are given. They want a king, so they're given a king. His name is Saul and he's hiding when his name is called.
Time after time throughout the scriptures, authors tell us that God gives His people what they want. In this case, the people don't want freedom. They'd rather be like all the other countries who have kings like Nahash. Nahash is a bad dude. While Saul is being presented as the king of Israel, Nahash is busy gouging out the eyes of different tribes of Israel. So right off the bat, as Samuel lays out the rules and regulations of the kingdom life, there is an enemy.
We're presented with a picture of a God who gives what the people want. If they want rescue, he gives it to them. If they don't want to live under the freedom of God, he gives them what they want. He even provides the king, who will eventually turn his back on the people.
So many times, we go down the rabbit trail of what God's purpose if for our lives. We're so afraid of looking inside ourselves, that we'd rather just look to the skies and hopefully catch a sign or a miracle. It's understandable why we do this.
If everything that I wanted was good, I wouldn't want pornography to rule me. If everything I wanted was pure, I wouldn't choose to take my first drink, knowing that it would become my master. If everything I wanted was right, I wouldn't want to try to control the people around me. Yet, when it comes down to it, I get what I want. If I want what is good, I get what is good. If I want what rules me, I get a king - a dictator.
In this story, we're painted a picture of a God who sacrifices himself for the people of Israel. He has to know what's best for the children of Israel, yet he puts that on hold in order to listen to the people. Even though he knows they're asking for a train wreck, he gives them their wishes. He even goes out of the way to do this in providing a king and a committee for the king.
If God controls us, then our minds don't matter. Our hearts don't matter. Our intellects don't matter. We are subject to ideas and purposes that are outside of ourselves. We have no say in the matter.
If we have a God who gives us whatever we want, and goes to extreme lengths to make it happen, our minds, hearts, ambitions, and hopes matter. We have a helper and a provider who works with us and not against us.
Even as the people of Israel are complaining about having Samuel represent the voice of God, and want rather to be ruled by a dictator, God is shown being for the people - an advocate for the peoples' wants and desires. You want to be ruled by a king? Here ya' go.
My king for the last year has been pornography. When I want it to rule me, it does. When I want it to rule me, I don't think about consequences. I don't think about the guilt that will come afterward. I don't think about how hard it will be to get out from under the tyranny. I only think of the one moment in which my cravings will be satisfied for a time.
In opposition to the king, I have these other desires. I want to write. I want to have purpose. I want to spend quality time with other people. I want to get out in nature and go flounder gigging. I want to play music. I want to share my stuff with others. I want to help people out. These desires are good, and I want to do what is good.
I believe God is present in all of it. If I want to indulge in porn, God's there. If I want to spend time with people in need, God's there.
God is present in the good decisions, and the bad. When I make the decisions that bring about negative consequences, I tend to use language like, "I don't feel close to God right now," or, "I'm having a hard time connecting with God right now."
When I want a king to rule me, God doesn't leave. God doesn't punish me. It's the king that punishes. It's the king that turns its back on me. God is there the whole time, waiting for me to want something different, something good. God doesn't stop working or acting or moving based on my decisions. The working, and acting, and moving is happening the whole way through.
If I want what isn't good for me, God's not going to stop me. According to the story, God helps the people have what's not good for them - not because he wants it, but because he loves the people so much he doesn't want to take on the characteristics of a tyrant. He helps them have what they truly want.
Freedom goes two ways. We are free to live great lives full of joy, and we are free to live miserable lives full of tyranny. These are choices that can't be generalized. For each new moment, each new situation, each new conversation, we are free to promote love or misery. We are free to accept love or misery for ourselves.
The most beautiful thing about this train wreck story is, God stays in the picture as an active character. He simply doesn't leave. He loves his people enough to let them have what they want, but never runs out of grace to keep rescuing them from their own self-oppressing decisions.
Today's Action: Do one thing today that reminds us that God is in the good, the bad, and the ugly decisions we make. Thank God for being present and not leaving.
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