Read

1 Samuel 4:12-8:22

Think

1 Samuel 8:6-7, "But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so, he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him...‘It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.'"

Within our finite minds, we don't always know what's best for us. We want and ask for things that could be detrimental to our physical, emotional, or spiritual health out of a desire to fit in or achieve success according to the world's standards. And, sometimes, God gives us these things so we can discover for ourselves that it really wasn't the best for us.

The Israelites' social media was blowing up with #WeWantAKingToo. They failed to trust God's chosen leader and last judge, Samuel. Other nations all had kings, so why shouldn't they have one as well? This obviously hurt Samuel, so he lifted his frustration and anguish up to God - who assured him that he shouldn't take it personally. They were really rejecting God as the King of kings - the best and most powerful King of all.

God obliged the Israelite's request, knowing they needed to learn from firsthand experience, even though it wasn't truly what was best for the nation. And his chosen people would soon find that having a human ruler wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Popularity, success, knowledge, entertainment, material objects, and status symbols can all become ruling forces over us. Though not inherently evil, we can't allow them to displace God as number one in our lives. He is our one true King. No idol or human leader can ever compare. Our risen Savior reigns now and forevermore! #WeHaveAKing!

Pray

Lord, Thank you for reigning over my life. I don't want to be a slave to the world! You are sovereign, and I submit all that I am to You. Amen.