Trading Gold for Gravel
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In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Samuel was arguably the last judge, and an early prophet in the nation of Israel.
And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.
Have you ever found yourself somewhere in life, and wondered why God led you there?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation, and looked back and realized that your choices led you to that point?
Unlike those that teach the Calvinistic doctrine of determinism (God causing all things, including human acts). We believe the Bible clearly teaches that man has a free will.
I believe God’s will can be clearly seen in the Bible in 2 ways: His perfect will, and His permissive will.
perfect will - His divine plan for your life
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
permissive will - what God allows
Russell Conwell - supposedly true story
Trading Gold for Gravel usually begins with...
1. A Real Problem (vv.1-3)
1. A Real Problem (vv.1-3)
This desire for change came from a real, and serious problem.
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.
Samuel’s sons were guilty of:
turned aside after lucre - they would take opportunities for unlawful gain (insider trading).
took bribes - Exodus 23:8
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
perverted judgment
Real problems:
Bad management - work
Low pay - work
Toxic workplace - work
Abuse - relationship
Infidelity - relationship
Broken trust - relationship
When we face a real problem in life, we need to be careful not to react, but to respond.
reacting - quick
responding - slower
2. A Worldly Solution (vv.4-5)
2. A Worldly Solution (vv.4-5)
“When the elders asked to have a king “like all the nations” (8:5), they were forgetting that Israel’s strength was to be unlike the other nations.
The elders were concerned about national security and protection from the enemies around them.” - Weirsbe
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
“It wasn’t Israel’s request for a king that was their greatest sin; it was their insisting that God give them a king immediately. The Lord had a king in mind for them, David the son of Jesse, but the time wasn’t ripe for him to appear. So, the Lord gave them their request by appointing Saul to be king, and He used Saul to chasten the nation and prepare them for David, the man of His choice.”
I gave thee a king in mine anger,
And took him away in my wrath.
The greatest judgment God can give us is to let us have our own way
And he gave them their request;
But sent leanness into their soul.
Worldly solutions:
Leave - family, job (going out for milk)
Give the boss/coworker a piece of your mind
3. A Dismissal of Counsel (vv.10-20)
3. A Dismissal of Counsel (vv.10-20)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Dismissing the counsel of Samuel would cost the Israelites dearly.
They would have their children taken (v.11,13)
They would be servants of the king (v.12)
They would have to give up their best lands/farms (v.14)
They would be taxed 1/10th of all their harvest (vv.15-17)
They would end up crying out to God, but He wouldn’t hear them.
Choosing temporal comfort or pleasure instead of seeking God, and His plan always comes with a price.
Israel eventually had 41 kings over 450 years. Of those kings, only 11 kings followed God at all, and 7 of those forgot God at the end of their reigns.
Israel would learn that a human leader was not the complete answer to their problems. Only God, their true leader, and faith in Him could bring the change they sought.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he shall direct thy paths.