Democracies Dark Side
1 Samuel 8:7-9
7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say
to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king
over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought
them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they
are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn
them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."
This was democracy in action. The people voted, the people demanded, and the people
were wrong. It is easy to get into a frenzy and join the rest of the sheep in running
in circles. The other nations have a king; we do not. They are normal; we are not.
We want to be normal; we do not care what it costs us.
Sometimes we can be most foolish.
God certainly gives man real choice and allows this real choice to be translated
into real consequences. We the people are only free when we hear and obey the voice
of God. We the people would be wise to know God and to obey Him, and to identify
others who know Him and listen to them.
This is an interesting dilemma here. God, knowing what was ahead, allowed those
He loved to make a bad decision. God must value free choice. He must value the idea
of man choosing to listen over making Him listen. This idea is consistent with the
story of the Prodigal Son. The father in that case probably knew that if he gave
his son what he requested, his son would squander it all, waste it, and ruin his
life. The father gave it to him anyway. The father knew that if this boy had this
resource, he would be a hurting man soon.
Then, as the boy was gone, perhaps dad waited every day for the destroyed boy to
come home. Then one day he saw him, and ran to him. Quite amazing.
When they got back together he put sandals on his feet and killed his fatted calf.
This boy was continually being surprised by the father. First, he probably thought
he would never get his inheritance early, but he did. Second, he thought that he
could never be forgiven, but he could. Third, he thought that his position as a
son could change; it could not.
I am sure the boy lost his inheritance, but never lost the love of the father or
the position as a son. I am sure he lived with scars, scorn from others, and a
lifelong regret. The father knew what was going to happen, and he let it happen.
I am sure he warned the boy the first time he asked, and he probably warned him
over and over again during his young life as he saw danger signs emerging. But,
the boy was insistent, and the father knew that this would teach him a real life
lesson.
It is my job to warn the next generation of the problems that will arise from ignoring
God, living for self, and creating a new normal that is dictated by the pagan world.
But they will probably not listen. I must warn them against living for riches, against
the evils of alcohol and trusting in money. But, they will probably not hear me
as they turn to others who approve such things.
So, I think I will go fatten a calf, and pray and watch and wait. One day, they
will come home, dirty, ruined, and ashamed. Their lives will never be the same.
Their youthful resources will have been scattered. Their minds, filled with the
ways of pagan thought, will be warped and slow to comprehend, but I will be there
to welcome them home.
I personally will be saddened with the thought of them leaving, I will be sad while
they are gone, and I will be saddened at the thought of what could have been, even
though I will be overjoyed at their return.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne, Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last, and our eternal home
Dave Wager davewager.com
7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say
to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king
over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought
them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they
are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn
them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."
This was democracy in action. The people voted, the people demanded, and the people
were wrong. It is easy to get into a frenzy and join the rest of the sheep in running
in circles. The other nations have a king; we do not. They are normal; we are not.
We want to be normal; we do not care what it costs us.
Sometimes we can be most foolish.
God certainly gives man real choice and allows this real choice to be translated
into real consequences. We the people are only free when we hear and obey the voice
of God. We the people would be wise to know God and to obey Him, and to identify
others who know Him and listen to them.
This is an interesting dilemma here. God, knowing what was ahead, allowed those
He loved to make a bad decision. God must value free choice. He must value the idea
of man choosing to listen over making Him listen. This idea is consistent with the
story of the Prodigal Son. The father in that case probably knew that if he gave
his son what he requested, his son would squander it all, waste it, and ruin his
life. The father gave it to him anyway. The father knew that if this boy had this
resource, he would be a hurting man soon.
Then, as the boy was gone, perhaps dad waited every day for the destroyed boy to
come home. Then one day he saw him, and ran to him. Quite amazing.
When they got back together he put sandals on his feet and killed his fatted calf.
This boy was continually being surprised by the father. First, he probably thought
he would never get his inheritance early, but he did. Second, he thought that he
could never be forgiven, but he could. Third, he thought that his position as a
son could change; it could not.
I am sure the boy lost his inheritance, but never lost the love of the father or
the position as a son. I am sure he lived with scars, scorn from others, and a
lifelong regret. The father knew what was going to happen, and he let it happen.
I am sure he warned the boy the first time he asked, and he probably warned him
over and over again during his young life as he saw danger signs emerging. But,
the boy was insistent, and the father knew that this would teach him a real life
lesson.
It is my job to warn the next generation of the problems that will arise from ignoring
God, living for self, and creating a new normal that is dictated by the pagan world.
But they will probably not listen. I must warn them against living for riches, against
the evils of alcohol and trusting in money. But, they will probably not hear me
as they turn to others who approve such things.
So, I think I will go fatten a calf, and pray and watch and wait. One day, they
will come home, dirty, ruined, and ashamed. Their lives will never be the same.
Their youthful resources will have been scattered. Their minds, filled with the
ways of pagan thought, will be warped and slow to comprehend, but I will be there
to welcome them home.
I personally will be saddened with the thought of them leaving, I will be sad while
they are gone, and I will be saddened at the thought of what could have been, even
though I will be overjoyed at their return.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne, Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last, and our eternal home
Dave Wager davewager.com
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