20/10/2021 - FOOLISH REQUEST

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So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 1 Samuel 8.10

The request made by the Israelites, when Samuel was judging Israel, displeased the Lord-who desired that His people not have a human king, for He would be their Sovereign. So, because they insisted, the Most High allowed men to put someone in the place where He would be the only one to reign. King Saul did not act according to God’s heart, but in David – God found that person (Acts 13.22).

It was 40 years of peace, progress and respect for the Scriptures. Jesse´s son did well, to the point that God considered him the right man to reign over Israel, because he conducted himself more like the shepherd of His people. Solomon, the son of David who succeeded him, feared God in the early years, but as time went by, he was carried away by the flesh and ruled shamefully. He was not watchful!

Solomon did not follow in his father’s firm footsteps; he married 700 women, and had 300 concubines. At the end of his days, they corrupted him by making him burn incense to various gods (1 Kings 11.1-8). What a pity! The wisest man on Earth bowed before demons. Let this stand as a warning to all Christians!

Other people were also blessed to be put in charge of the nation, but they didn’t understand that they should serve the Lord as the shepherd of the people, so they were reckless. Poor wretches! They didn’t know about the Day of Judgment, when their misdeeds will be exposed and they will be on the way to the lake of fire and brimstone. Why then, be dishonest and not serve God?

There are several verses that speak of the last Day, when all will appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of what they have done with the power given to them. See what will happen with the deals made in secret: Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light; and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops (Luke 12.3). God is a righteous Judge!

When Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, saw that his master would not receive any gift from Naaman, the general of Syria who was cleansed of his leprosy, he ran after him and made up a story. According to that servant, a difficulty had arisen and so the man of God had sent for Naaman’s help. When Elisha asked his servant what he had done, the answer was that he had done nothing. Then the prophet unmasked him, and Gehazi was leprous! The Lord sees everything (2 Kings 5:19-27)!

Why cheat or do any other wrong deed, if we live in God, and everything is done in Him? For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17.28). Only ask for that which is good, in order not to be embarrassed and cast into eternal darkness. Be wise and live! 

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares