Politics—the word alone feels charged with emotion these days, emotions that exhaust some, embolden others and invite a lot of frustration. I’ve spent my fair share of time in each of these emotions.
In 1 Samuel 8, God warned the Israelites through the prophet Samuel that having a king would lead to oppression and exploitation. The Israelites who heard Samuel’s words refused to listen, the same thing my 7-year-old does when I instruct him to clean his lunchbox.
“But I didn’t hear you!” He protests when I tell him to surrender a quarter from his money jar because of his disobedience.
Listening requires attentiveness and a desire to engage with what one hears. And listening wasn’t something Israel did very well or very often. When the Israelites refused to listen to God’s warning through Samuel, God told Samuel to give them the king they were begging for. He told Samuel that their demand for a king was evidence of their rejection of Him as their true King. They were no longer interested in serving God. They wanted life on their terms, with the terms of a human king. They thought serving man would be easier for them, more to their liking. They believed in a lie.
Humankind hasn’t changed much, if at all. We continue to think that serving men will leave us better off. Why do we believe these lies? Maybe because we can manipulate and sway human authority. We may have specific power or control over their length and breadth of authority. Yet, we often believe humans are better at loving each other and understanding what is best for us—rather than God.
I’ve been reading through the minor prophets and, most recently, working through Amos. After the Lord declares judgment on some of Israel’s neighbors for various things, He speaks directly to Israel and Judah (the name of the southern tribe of Israel) and proclaims judgment on them.
To Judah, He said, “…I will not revoke its punishment, because they rejected the Law of the Lord and have not kept His statutes; their lies also led them astray, those which their fathers followed. So I will send fire upon Judah, and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem” (Amos 2:4-5, NASB2020).
To Israel, He said, “…I will not revoke its punishment, because they sell the righteous for money, and the needy for a pair of sandals. Those who trample the head of the helpless to the dust of the earth and divert the way of the humble…” (Amos 2:6-7, NASB2020).
A century later, Jeremiah, the prophet, speaks for the Lord to the Israelites. “Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause…for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy…because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you”(Jeremiah 30:12-15, CSB).
I can’t help but think as I look around—how much of this division we face daily is evidence that we would rather have a “human king” than yield our ambitions to the Creator? We in America aren’t Israel, but we were made in His image all the same, and Israel as a chosen people is just a picture of what it looks like to be loved and chosen. You can be loved and chosen and blessed and have seas split before your very eyes, but what makes us belong to Him is whether we can humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways so that He can forgive our sin and heal our land (2 Chronicles, 7:13-14).
When I repeatedly feel discontent and powerless, I’m encouraged to listen to the Chronicler and recall the instruction of the prophet Micah. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV). If we adhered to these principles, I believe we would choose truth rather than lies.
Prayer: Father, I often get ideas on how to fix humanity's problems that only address secondary issues. Forgive me for my tendencies to desire “a human king” more than I desire to start with the work of humbling myself, seeking You, and turning away from my sin. Thank You for your faithfulness and lead me with Your kindness. May I learn from Your Spirit how to do justice daily in a way that honors Your creation and brings glory to Your name. Amen.
Your Turn: Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we will rise up and stand firm” (Psalms 20:7-8, NIV).
Do you find yourself with a lot of political opinions? As you navigate your thoughts and feelings about each conflict, is your desire for the Lord increasing, or are you looking to hold up political figures as “right”?
How does the energy and time you spend researching, contemplating, and advocating compare to the time you spend daily walking humbly with your God, doing justice, and showing loving-kindness?
Do you believe God can heal our land, and are you willing to seek that healing His way?
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