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GOD IS LOVE, HEED THE WARNINGS (1 SAMUEL 8:1-22)

REFLECTION

“God is love, heed the warnings” is the theme for our reflection. “God is love, heed the warnings” means that God cares for us unconditionally; therefore, we must listen and follow admonishment. We shall reflect on the fact that God loves us unconditionally and He always desires His will to be done in our lives through obedience. Nonetheless, we may sometimes make poor choices that depart from God’s will for our lives; yet, His love never ceases, because God is love.

Beloved in the Lord, Israel desired to copy other nations by opting for a monarchy over a Theocracy. A Monarch is a sovereign head of state, especially a king, queen, or emperor. A monarchy is a system of government based on the undivided sovereignty or rule of a king or queen. The term applies to states in which supreme authority is vested in the monarch, an individual ruler who functions as the head of state. On the other hand, a Theocracy is a form of government in which one or more deities are recognised as supreme ruling authorities, giving divine guidance to human intermediaries who manage the government’s daily affairs. The system of Government that existed before Israel opted for Monarchy was Theocracy. God ruled Israel through human intermediaries such as the Patriarchs, Judges, Priests and Prophets, until the time of Samuel, before “all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” (1 Samuel 8:4-5). It is important to note that although there was a well-established system of Priesthood, God still called or chose specific people to represent Him. For instance, God chose Samuel over the sons of Eli. The elders of Israel had it wrong because they misconceived the plans and purposes of God, thinking that Samuel’s children would automatically succeed him.

It was obvious that the people of Israel were greatly influenced by the culture and tradition of the neighbouring nations instead of seeking the face of God and His will for their lives. They failed to examine the Monarchical system of Government and its ramifications or consequences upon their rights and freedom, that was well guaranteed and protected by the existing Theocratic government. Samuel seized the opportunity to warn them about the repercussions of their decision. We see the caveat or warning given to them in 1 Samuel 8:10-18. After Samuel had cautioned them, “… the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20). Beloved in the Lord, we see God exercising democracy and not autocracy in His Theocratic government! Although God took the initiative to form the nation Israel, He had the right to impose upon them a Theocratic government, yet He was accommodating and patient with Israel because He is love. God had all the power to impose Theocracy on Israel, but as a loving Father, He respected the will and decision of the people, even with its consequential ramifications or future challenges. In other words, God still loves us even if we reject Him in the exercise of our free will. However, it is important to note that although God loves us and desires the best for us, we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make. For instance, God’s purpose for humanity is monogamous marriage according to Genesis 2:24-25, yet mankind opted for polygamy. God’s purpose is to create two genders, but now we have males becoming females and females becoming females. God’s will is for us to be faithful in our marriages, yet we have opted for and normalised sexual immorality and promiscuity.

Another important Scripture that illustrates the point that God is love, therefore we must heed his warnings, is the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country, and there squandered his wealth in wild living.” (Luke 15:11-13). The father in the parable of the prodigal son is God. The prodigal son knew the Father loved him. Again, he knew that the father’s will was to have him stay at home to manage his business with the elder brother, yet he was influenced by the outside world and willingly opted to live an independent and unguided life. We are told that when he had messed up his life and was suffering, he remembered his father’s unconditional love and returned home. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24)

Dear friend in the Lord, we might have made some bad decisions in the past or recently that have had an adverse effect on us and perhaps on your relationship with other people. Out of our free will or volition, we have made certain decisions or have done some very regrettable things without heeding God’s warning in Scripture and the myriads of sermons we have heard. Some of us have committed abortion, destroyed the hard-earned reputation of others, maliciously hurt others, destroyed the relationships and marriages of other people or have done very shameful and terrible things which continue to haunt us and give us sleepless nights. The good news is that regardless of our bad decisions and the wrongful exercise of our free will, God has given us the assurance through His word that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Because God loves us, He invites us to “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). Again we are greatly encouraged by the Psalmist when He wrote “Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Saviour. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” (Psalms 27:9-10). Dear friend, regardless of our sins, “…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17). Beloved in the Lord, just as we have the free will to reject God, God also has the free will to reject us, but because of His love and mercy, He exercises His free will graciously for our redemption and salvation. Therefore, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…(Hebrews 3:15).

Today’s reflection offers us the opportunity to reflect on our relationship with God through fasting, prayer and Bible studies. Most importantly, today’s reflection allows us to realign our lives and will with the plans, purposes and will of God for our lives. So long as we are alive, we have the opportunity to return to God, who is the sovereign Lord over our lives, ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ (Acts 17:28). Let us remember that regardless of whatever political government our country upholds, we Christians practice Theocracy, for the Lord reigns supreme over our lives, and we must completely surrender our will and lives to Him.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “God is love, heed the warnings” We have discovered that God loves us unconditionally and He always desires His will to be done in our lives through obedience to Him. We are greatly encouraged to heed the warnings of the God who loves us unconditionally through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We must, however, note that although God loves us and desires the best for us, we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make. Shalom.

PERSONAL PRAYER

Thank you, God, for Your love and immeasurable grace upon our lives. We do not deserve Your love, patience and forgiveness since we have disobeyed You in the exercise of our free will, yet You continue to love us. We repent of our sins and completely surrender our lives and will to you. Lord, have mercy on us and receive us into your loving and gracious hands through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.