Revelation of the Word:

THEME: OPPRESSION OF THE POOR

1 Samuel 8:10–19 NIV

“Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.”

INSIGHT

-When the Israelites desired a king like other nations, they refused to listen to the Lord and He gave them Saul with a warning that he would introduce oppressive policies. That he would take in their sons and daughters as servants, and give the best of their land to his attendants. The best of their livestock for his own use. A tenth of their grain levied to the king and his attendants. God always has good plans for us so long as we trust in Him and in His ways for us, but whenever we push for our own ways, He will warn us and allow us to have our own way. God has given us the freedom of choice and therefore it is up to us to choose that which God wants for us so as to get the best for ourselves. Therefore, what is the remedy? To totally seek and follow God’s perfect will for our lives. For it was not God’s will for the people to have a king but they insisted and asked for it and God gave them. At the end of it all Saul had his downfall and mishaps brought by his disobedience to God and God rejected him as king (1 Samuel 15). God still intervened and made a way for an even better king- king David from whom the lineage of Jesus was to come from (1 Samuel 16:12-13). When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Proverbs 29:2 ). We are then called to pray for kings and those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness, which is Gods will (1 Timothy2:1–3).  

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father we come before You with thanksgiving and praise. We worship You and exult Your holy name. Thank You Jehovah for the far that You have brought us and the far that You have taken us. We repent all our sins, sins of our nation, all the nations of the world, all the oppression that has occurred in the nations, that You may forgive us and wash us with Your precious blood. We pray for presidents all over the world and all our leaders, that You may bless them and increase them in wisdom. May You teach them to do Your divine will and desist from oppressive policies, that You may give them hearts after Your own heart Lord like king David. We pray for Your peace that surpasses all understanding in all spheres our lives, families, communities, churches, economy and nation. May You prosper us and grant us Your favor before You and before men. May You give us peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness for Your names sake. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen

Further reading: Romans 13:1, Psalms 2:10-11

Blessed Wednesday

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