From the beginning of The Bible, God took the nation of Israel unto Himself as His own people. They were to His wife and He cared for them as such. You especially see that throughout all of those years of their slavery to the Egyptians. Though they were slaves, the people of Israel still prospered.
Even down to the detail of having children. Pharaoh could not figure out why the Hebrew slave women were having so many kids and the Egyptian women were not. Pharaoh had literally ordered the Egyptian midwives to “abort” the Hebrew babies. They refused to obey that order, obeyed the Most High God, and thus they too were blessed with many children! This is the situation into which Moses was born.
It was also quite obvious that God had sealed up the Egyptian woman's wombs, but blessed the Hebrew/Israelite women!
Back then the nation of Israel was a theocracy. What's that? It means to be governed BY ONE GOD! As mentioned before, God was the husband, and the nation of Israel was His wife.
It stayed that way until one day the nation of Israel rose up against the prophet Samuel and demanded a king. Please read:
1 Samuel 8:4-22 (Amplified Bible)
4. All the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah
5. And said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.
6. But it displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to govern us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7. And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the people in all they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be King over them.
8. According to all the works which they have done since I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they also do to you.
9. So listen now to their voice; only solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.
10. So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.
11. And he said, These will be the ways of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots.
12. He will appoint them for himself to be commanders over thousands and over fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and equipment for his chariots.
13. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14. He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
15. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.
16. He will take your men and women servants and the best of your cattle and your donkeys and put them to his work.
17. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves shall be his slaves.
18. In that day you will cry out because of your king you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not hear you then.
19. Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, No! We will have a king over us,
20. That we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.
21. Samuel heard all the people's words and repeated them in the Lord's ears.
22. And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go every man to his city.
Previously, Israel had no king because GOD WAS THEIR KING! But through their various trials and tribulations and wars and such, the nation of Israel looked around at the “heathen” nations surrounding them and asked, “Hey, how come we don't have a king like the Amlakites, Perisites, Philistines, etc.
Poor Samuel was heartbroken but God told him to give the people what they were demanding. But, first warn them what a king will do to them. Everything from conscription of sons and daughters into his service, for armies, slavery, confiscation of property and taxes. YES TAXES! Even back then God warned about taxes!
God already knew the indignities the heathen nations were suffering at the hands of their kings. Thus, He wanted to spare the His wife, The Nation of Israel the pain and burden.
God already knew the indignities the heathen nations were suffering at the hands of their kings. Thus, He wanted to spare the His wife, The Nation of Israel the pain and burden.
Even with the warnings, the people of insisted on having a king, so God gave them a king. His name was Saul, and he was a real winner! He was full of himself and refused to obey God! Everything God said not to do, he did! And everything God said to do, he didn't! God immediately replaced him with David. . . . . .
For the next part of history you'd have to read both 1st and 2nd Kings. In those books The Nation of Israel had a succession of kings, and most of them were bad. The passage(s) would read: "But King ( Such & Such ) did evil in the sight of the Lord. . . . . . ." They would lead the people down the path of idolatry, and as far away from God without falling off the planet.
You will also notice that when that happened, God removed that particular king. Either he died as a result of war, was assassinated, or had a stroke, or a heart attack, or he went "nutter" like Nebuchadnezzer. They were history! Why? Because God was serious about the king representing Himself to the people! If you were king and not going to God's representative on Earth before His People, there was no need to keep you alive. Period!
Unfortunately, this is also how we wound up with government in the state it is in today.
Now, let's go to Verse 18 which says: "In that day you will cry out because of your king you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not hear you then."
Why won't He hear you? Because He'd already warned you what a King will do to you, John or Joan Q Citizen! Like that Verizon commercial: "CAN YA HEAR ME NOW?"
Ehem! Um. It kinda sounds like what's going on today in the US Of A, doesn't it? It our responsibility to select the right man for office! Not someone because he is a particular race or color, but does he know God? Does he have Godly values? Not because he promises to put "a chicken in every pot." or give us each "40 acres and a mule." Time out and enough of that nonsense!
So what do we do? We pray! The Bible says “Pray for our government so that we as Christians can continue our work in peace." What is that work? Seeking and saving the lost! We also take a stand for Christian Conservative Values and don't back down!
There are Islamic frantics in the world who are willing to die for their faith! They believe that when they die blowing up the “infidels”, they will automatically go to paradise and get 72 virgins. Of course this is a great Satanic lie! But, they go forth and proclaim it boldly!
We as believers, who have the "real" promise of paradise with our KING JESUS should be just as, and even more bold in proclaiming our faith and reclaiming lost territory! Places like our homes, schools, workplaces and government should not be DEVOID OF GOD!
As for our governmental officials, the bible says every man will have to stand in judgment before God. EVERY MAN! God is the one who PUT every President, Senator, Congress Person, Representative, Governor, Mayor, councilperson, etc into office. While in office they are responsible ( like the Old Testament Israeli Kings ) to represent God, NOT feather their own nests nor further enslave and tax the citizenry!
Just because you as an elected official engage in smoke filled back room politics, glad handing, under the table deals, greasing each others palms, wheeling and dealing, that no one sees. If they do, and you get caught, you never get convicted, doesn't mean that God does not see! You are accountable to the very God who gives your breath!
Remember, just as God removed those Ancient Israeli kings from their thrones, He can surely remove you!
Just because you as an elected official engage in smoke filled back room politics, glad handing, under the table deals, greasing each others palms, wheeling and dealing, that no one sees. If they do, and you get caught, you never get convicted, doesn't mean that God does not see! You are accountable to the very God who gives your breath!
Remember, just as God removed those Ancient Israeli kings from their thrones, He can surely remove you!
Obviously, this particular fight, it will not be won by being quiet. No, we must enter the battle, win back territory and take a stand. If not, Satan will continue to sneak in and steal bits and pieces while we are unaware.
Remember: He goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour. He is always looking for an opportunity. Thus we should always be checking our "six".
The Bible also says: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. . . .”
This is a call to arms!
Ephesians 6:12-14 (Amplified Bible)
12. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13. Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
Go Forth In Christ!
