Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (1 Samuel 8:4-7)
The pages of the Old Testament reveal a pivotal moment in the history of God's chosen people, the Israelites. It was a time when their desire for an earthly king collided with the divine design for their governance. God had, for centuries, guided His people through prophets and judges, leading them directly through His mouthpieces to their hearts. But the elders of Israel approached the prophet Samuel with a request: "Give us a king to judge us like all the nations." They wanted what everyone else had. They longed for a human king, a tangible ruler of flesh and bone, much like their neighboring nations. Samuel, the prophet, was upset at their request. He sensed the weight of their decision and sought the Lord's guidance through prayer.
God's response was clear: He told Samuel to listen to the voice of the people, for they had not rejected Samuel; they had rejected Him as their true King. This moment reminds us of the delicate balance between our desires and God's divine plan. It's easy to look at others and covet what they have, simply because everyone else has it or everyone else is doing it. Yet, as the Lord reminded the Israelites, following the crowd can lead to disastrous consequences. The king would tax their money, take their land and children, burden them, harm them, and be unjust.
In our lives, we often face choices where our desires may clash with God's perfect design. It's during these moments that we should pause, like Samuel, and seek the Lord in prayer. We should ask ourselves if our desires align with God's will or if we are simply pursuing what seems in our mind to be popular or convenient.
Practical Application
When you are planning, take time to pause and ask the Lord if what you are doing has more to do with your heart or His will. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and follow Him.