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March 18, 2007
"I Want It, Need It, Got to Have It!"
The World's Most Important Book—Part 8
1 Samuel 8-10
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
—Matthew 6:33
1. Be careful what you ask for.
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: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
—1 Samuel 8:6-9
- There is strong evidence that the people wanted something that God had planned to give them.
I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you...And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her."
—Genesis 17:6, 16 NKJV
- Israel's sin wasn't the request for a king, it was insisting that God give them one immediately.
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 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
2. You may get it.
And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
—Psalm 106:15 (NKJV)
"The greatest judgment God can give us is to let us have our own way."
—Warren Wiersbe
The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."
—1 Samuel 8:22
- God warned them about the price they would pay for a king.
Question: What price would the people pay to have a king?
- Take your sons
- Take your daughters
- Take the best of your vineyards
- Take a tenth of your grains
- Take the best of your servants
- Take the best of your cattle and donkeys
- Take a tenth of your flocks
You will become his slaves!
There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the others.
—1 Samuel 9:1-2
But when they looked for him, he was not to be found...And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage." They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." Then the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
—1 Samuel 10:21-24
3. For best results, Pray "IN TUNE" with God.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
—Matthew 6:33
Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.
—Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)
Lifework
At times in our life, there are things we desperately want, just like the Nation of Israel wanted a king. The thing we desire may even be something God plans to give us. Use the following questions to evaluate your wants:
- What is it you can't live without?
- How did you discover this need?
- Is it something God wants you to have?
- What restraint do you need to put in place?
- How will you know when God gives it to you rather than you taking it for yourself?
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
—Proverbs 10:22
What desire has become king to you?
Will you release it to God for His plan and timing?
"David"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- What have you bought based on first impressions, only to find out later that the product was not as advertised?
- How do you feel when someone casts doubt on your ability to do something? Do others have more confidence in you than you have in yourself?
Digging deeper: Read and Reflect
- David and Goliath (1 Samuel 16:1-18:16) What do you think really motivated David to challenge Goliath? Are there any Goliaths in your life? What are they and how might faith in God help you fight them?
- David and Saul (1 Samuel 23:7-24:22) What underlying issues drove Saul's attitude toward David? Is there anyone who has an irrationally negative attitude towards you? What could you do to make things better?
- King David (2 Samuel 5:1-7:29) What made David such a great king? From all you know about him, what lessons from David's life could you apply to your own life?
- David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:25) What I do in my personal live is nobody's business but my own. Agree or Disagree? Why? What do you learn from Nathan the prophet about how to respond when the people you care about make bad choices?
Applying It To My Life
- How do you react when someone defies God?
- What giants are drawn up against you in battle? Is you attitude toward them more like Saul's or David? How does your attitude need to change?
- What is holding you back from taking the bull by the horns (or Goliath by the slingshot)? What Goliaths are there in society, defying God and Christians? How can you, small and unarmed, work to bring them down?