Can we just acknowledge the elephant in the room? What a timely metaphor, right? So there's a lot of tension in not just this country, but the world today. There's a quote that has brought me encouragement.

God's purposes know no haste and no delay.

I think That's a profound statement. And I have to admit in the last seven days, I had some ideas of how things would play out. And as of this moment, that is not how they have played out. And so I've been thinking since about 2:15am Tuesday night, or I guess it would be Wednesday morning. So I'm sitting there watching this all unfold. And I thought, this is so interesting. I guess I should go to sleep. Should I go to sleep? And I finally decided to go to sleep, but regardless of where you're at on the spectrum of different ideas God's purposes, no, no haste and no delay.

So I want to walk through a story.. and here's the first question. What would life look like if God was King? If God was the president, what would it look like if we lived in a theocracy? Well, the good news is we don't have to do a lot of guessing. Some followers of the handmaids’ tale may think I’ve lost my mind but hang with me for a few minutes. There's some things that tell us about what life was like in history. 

God says, Hey, I'm taking you out of slavery and I'm going to give you the land I promised Abraham. And so we read some things. One is the idea that  “ In God's plan for Israel. Every family had a home on the land. with sufficient ground for tilling and thus were provided both the means and the incentive for a useful industrious and self-supporting life. No devising of men has ever improved upon that plan to the world's departure from it is owing to a large degree, the poverty and wretchedness that exists today.

Isaiah chapter 27 has something along these lines - , I'll never forget reading this a few years ago And thinking wow that is very interesting. Isaiah chapter 27 and verse six,

This verse is talking about what would happen if God's people or if God's will was fulfilled in all the earth. It says this, those who come, he shall cause to take root. And Israel shall blossom And bud, ---now we understand today, Israel can apply to anyone that wants to believe--- Israel shall blossom And bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

I Want you to think about where fruit comes from. Think about that statement we just made. If God was in charge and he was saying, look, this is what I want everybody to live by. We’ve  just seen some key details. Now turn with me to Isaiah 14, verse 21. Now we look at the contrast. What I'm sharing is going to sound political,

But to be honest, What's not political? Really these days everything gets thrown in. Ok so we just learned if God's righteous  people filled the earth, what would they do? They'd fill the face of the world with fruit. Here's the other side of the coin. Verse 21 of Isaiah 14. This is in talking about the wicked i.e the selfish. If the wicked ruled the world, what would they do? And it basically gives a warning --- less. They rise up and possess the land and fill the face of the world with Cities…

Something happens with your mind based on where you live. to anyone who had never seen the map of the United States this week, if they were on another planet or they were in another country, they would have started to observe something very interesting --people in the cities think (or in the most recent case - Vote differently than the people in the country. You can start to almost think there was polka dots in the United States. There is a lot, and I'm not going to get into it today, but there is a lot that scripture describes about life in the country versus the city and how it affects your mindset.

So that's a different sermon for a different day. But what I'm asking you, the question is if God was in charge, where would he have people living? And it's clear when we get into this idea a little deeper. So Israel has come into the land and instantly they don't really like this idea. They start to turn and they start to watch the things of the nations around them. And they say, well, maybe they have a better way of doing this. You know, maybe our country isn't so great. They start to say things and do things where the country starts to change from God's ideal.

from the book, patriarchs and prophets. It describes the idea like this, the government of Israel was administered in the name and by the authority of God, and the work of Moses. And in this context, we're going to look at the work of Samuel. So there was a person who led, and then there were the 70 elders. So there's an administrative body and of the rulers and judges throughout the land had  their purpose to enforce the laws that God had given. They had no authority to legislate for the nation. In other words no authority to make up new laws, to infringe upon the rights that God gave every man and woman, when they entered the land. This was and continued to be the condition of Israel's existence. And we learn As a nation, from age to age, men inspired by God were sent to instruct the people and to direct in the enforcement of the laws. 

Ok So let's jump into this story. It's in first Samuel chapter eight, and I think we will see some things we haven't seen before. I know I did, as I studied it this week, first Samuel chapter eight.

Now Samuel was raised up To be a leader for God's people. And God's people were raised up to be a leader to all the world. And the question I want you to ask as we go through the story is why did they stop leading?

Okay, here we go.

Now it came to pass. When Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. but we learn his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain, they took bribes and they perverted justice. I like to call them politicians, and then all, all the elders of Israel gathered together, came to Samuel at Ramah. They never came to him before to say, Hey, look, there's corruption going on. Your sons are corrupt. They held onto this information until the right time. And then they released it to Samuel. 

So the, the elders of Israel come to him and they say to Samuel, Look, you are old. And your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a King to judge us like all the nations. But this really got Samuel discouraged and felt insulted and hurt.

The commentary on this in the book patriarchs and prophets says Samuels's emotions were going all over the place. He was offended. He was hurt. Have I not done a good job? I'm just doing what God's shown me. But instead he just tells them, I'll take the matter to the Lord. And that's what he does. He goes and prays to the Lord  And the Lord said to Samuel,. Listen to the voice of the people. 

You know, you think you've got God figured out. You think in this situation, if we were watching the news, did you hear all of the States of Israel have come to Samuel? And they have told him, we think you're old and  we need a King, like the nations around us. And then Samuel goes in and you think, Oh, I know how God's going to respond to this. And God says, listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you for, they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them.

according to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt, even to this day with which they have forsaken me and served other gods. So they are doing to you also now, listen to them. However you should warn them. This is the beauty of God. Warn them, show them the behavior of the King, who will reign over them. So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a King. 

The next few verses begin to describe how the king will take their children, their crops, raise taxes, how some freedoms would be lost…

And even after Samuel warns them with all this they respond -  nah, we will have a King over us.

That we may also be like all the nations that our King may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles. Samuel hears the words of the people and repeated to the Lord. So the Lord said to Samuel, listen to their voice, make them a King. And Samuel says every man to his city. 

I think this is Absolutely profound. Okay. We fast forward in the story a little bit. To the part of the story where Saul is found as the king in Chapter 10. 

If you've Ever heard the question, are leaders selected or elected? That's always a fun question. First Samuel chapter 10 verses 17 to 19, describe how Samuel clearly shares what will happen. He is quoting the Lord who says “. I brought you up out of Egypt And delivered You from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you, but you have today rejected your God, who himself saved you from all your adversaries and your tribulations. And you have said to him, no, set a King over us. Now, therefore present yourselves before the Lord, by your tribes and by your clans and through this amazing thing, that's almost mystical in the older Testament, they begin casting lots and it gets narrowed down, narrow down, narrow down to the people say, ah, we have selected, or I should I say elected Saul. And what we learn of Saul is Saul is literally head and shoulders taller than everybody in Israel. We're told he is the best looking person we're told he fit the exact stereotype of when they thought of, if we had a King that was better than the nations around us, he would look like this …

That now here's the interesting thing….

God was in this. God had literally led Samuel to anoint Saul as King. You have to ask yourself, well, that's very strange. Why, why would God even help if they've rejected him and Samuel. 

I mean democracies. Last what? A hundred, 200 years. God could have said “Good luck until you literally destroy yourselves, but God isn’t like us. And I think we have an understanding of this in Daniel. Chapter two and this might bring you some encouragement in the moment we live in. And in really any moment when leaders are selected, I mean, elected. In  Daniel chapter two and verse 21,

Daniel says to King Nebuchadnezzar about God. That “He changes the times and the seasons-- he removes Kings and he raises up Kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding ----this profound idea and almost a warning to Nebuchadnezzar. In one moment God sets you up and the next he can take you down.

And it usually, as we look through history that usually hinges on, are you giving my people the freedom to worship as they desire? And as soon as a kingdom or a King does not support that or allow that God says, okay, next, it's a really profound idea. And so in first Samuel, we read something interesting. So here's the scene. Samuel has brought everyone together to make this official. They are actively a part of what they believe are electing the King. God has already anointed Saul, but now they feel we have elected the King. And this is exactly who we want. This is the guy, right?. And yet we learned something very interesting in verse 27, but some rebels said, how can this man save us? So they despised him talking about Saul and brought him no presents.

And here's a little of the backstory we learn about this, the ones that were most vocal in going to Samuel and saying, look, Samuel, your sons are corrupt. We need a King. It is time to do this. We learn, these are the ones that in this moment say this isn't our King. This isn't our guy. No, that's not the one we want it. We want it somebody else. And I like to think this was probably one of the first contested elections, especially in Israel. We know we said we wanted a guy, but we don't want that guy. We want a different guy. And then there's some commentary on it. It says when men choose to have their own way without seeking counsel from God or they are in opposition to his revealed will he often grants their desires in order that through the bitter experience that follows, they may be led to realize they're folly and to repent of their sin.

So that's pretty profound.

So they are saying We don't want God as our King anymore. Samuel you're old. We want to be just like everybody else out there. And God says, okay. And he does it for this reason so that you can see that this is a bad idea. Then it goes on to describe it like this. While the people in general were ready to acknowledge Saul as their King, there was a large party in opposition for a Monarch to be chosen from Benjamin the smallest of the tribes---- and to neglect both Judah and Ephraim, the largest and most powerful was a slight, which they could not overlook. And they refused to profess allegiance to Saul or to bring him the customary presents. Those who had been most urgent in their demand for a King were the very ones that refused to accept. The man of God's appointment. As you could guess --- the members of each faction had their favorite whom they wished to see placed on the throne.

. And so the story progresses, they go off to war. Saul leads them. They win this war. They're so thrilled that in their enthusiasm, they propose to Saul, Hey, Saul, let's put those who don't agree with you being King. Let's put them to death -- Because they refuse to acknowledge your authority and Saul. Interestingly enough he says, no, that is not what God has called me to do. 

So then finally, we have this other moment where Samuel is addressing everyone and he makes himself clear. I didn't sin against you. I just want to be clear. I didn't mess things up. You slid into your own ideas, your own idolatry and all these things. And you're rejecting God. And I just want you to know that. And then we were told in the story that in the middle of the dry season, Samuel says, and I want to show you God's displeasure of what you've done. And out of nowhere comes this massive thunderstorm and they are literally terrified and they repent of their sin, but it's too late.

Then we go forward just so we can have some closure to this story. First, Samuel chapter 13 and verse eight. Again, Saul goes off into war. And as with anyone in leadership, it's easy to think. You know, I'm pretty smart. I got this figured out. I've read. I think I read God's counsel. So I probably remember it pretty well. Saul thinks to himself – Hey look Samuel is delayed. Samuel has told him, wait, seven days, in verse eight of chapter 13. Then he waited seven days. And according to the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. So Saul said something like , I got this brilliant idea. And then scripture says, bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me. And he offered the burnt offering. And now it happened as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering that Samuel came and saw, went out that he might greet him. And Samuel said, what have you done?

Well, Saul says. When I saw the people that were scattered for me, you did not come within the days, appointed that the Philistines gathered together and then I said, the Philistines will now come down to me at Gilgal. And I have not made supplication to the Lord. He's making the most beautiful excuse. Therefore, I felt compelled and offered a burn offering. And Samuel said to Saul, you have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord, your God, which he commanded you for. Now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for himself, a man after his own heart. That's David we learn, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over his people because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you 

How in the world Was God was in this? God just made him king! Right? . not much time passes. God gives this person an opportunity to do what is right. He doesn't do what is right. And God says the same words from Daniel 2:21, I raise up Kings and I take them down and Saul your time is done. And this really shows you the sovereignty of God in earthly affairs. And we can wonder, and we can perplex and we can have strong emotions and feelings. But at the end of the day, we have to say those words in second Chronicles, chapter 20 verse 12, ----God, why won't you stop them? We have no way to protect ourselves against this great multitude. We don't know what to do-----, but our eyes are on you.

And I think this is where there's an important lesson for us right now. You may be looking at this world and you may be thinking where in the world is God, or perhaps, four years ago, you might've thought that same thing ---where, Oh, my word, Lord, did you fall asleep? How did this happen? But what we see here in Daniel two is somehow in some way that we don't quite fully understand God. the temptation for us is to get caught up in the moment and to wonder if God has gone to sleep, or if he's on vacation rather than Lord, --- in the darkness of the world we're in now where arguably in America, we are in the midst of what some are calling a third world election. Some are asking Lord Where are you?

And that's where the only light on earth is in scripture - , because prophetically, we read about these two powers at the end of time, that appear very, very different. Yet behind the scenes are working together. The Pharisees and the Sadducees on the surface appeared very, very different arguing publicly with people and with each other, but behind the scenes, they were in this together. And our responsibility is Lord, how do I live a life According to the words of this book. 

. It's our duty to love people that we may not think are lovely. And then I think it's our responsibility to say, Lord, I'm not going to get caught up in the distractions where it's tempting for me. I'm going to be very personal right now. It's tempting for me to only have my eyes on earthly affairs, to think of this tax bracket, these tax issues, this moral issue that I deem very important to me, Lord, don't you care about these things. Didn't you come in and to set up this country? Why are things seemingly disintegrating? And I think in this moment, I'm trying to remind myself, I don't think God has given up on us.

Jesus, tells us in Revelation that He literally made a cradle – a nation for this book in history that no other country on earth has been privileged to hold and learn from so freely. And yet, somehow I believe God raised up a country for a special reason. And that there's no other country in the world where people will die, trying to get to.

But I honestly think that is for our moment of apparent peace and prosperity. What will we do about that graciousness that God has given us in this moment? Because as far as I'm concerned, while the whole world is asking, Whoa, what's going on? Where are things trending? I thought it was going this way. Now. It seems like it’s going The other way I am completely convicted now is our moment. Now is our moment to speak to people on both sides of the aisle and all walks of life. And to say, look, I need to tell you something very important. That is not going to make much sense. And if you fall into the political ditches, you're going to think I'm speaking against what you hold sacred.

But taking the time to be true, honest, humble and yet courageous, bold, and full of faith that what God has started…in this country and in you and me---he will bring to completion. That’s my prayer.