The King

Good day to each of you reading this column on the King as I will utilize the following text as a reference which is in 1 Samuel.

Before we begin, here’s a couple of true stories I found to make you laugh and wonder what ever happened to common sense. We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a “large” enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time, a ½ horsepower. He shook his head and said, “You need a ¼ horsepower.” I said that a ½ was larger than a ¼. He looked at me and said, “No, it is not—everyone knows that four is larger than two.” We haven’t used Sears repair since.

The lady said, “When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We headed to the service department and found the mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver side door. While watching from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and shockingly opened the door. “Hey, I announced to the technician, it’s open!” And his reply, “Yep, I know. I already got that side.” This happened at a Ford dealership”.

Getting back to the serious side, the father of our nation, George Washington offered the following quotes for you to ponder:

“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”

“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

“Be Americans. Let there be no sectionalism, no North, South, East or West. You are all dependent on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation. Be Americans, and be true to yourselves.”

“A pack of jackasses led by a lion is superior to a pack of lions led by a jackass.”

“The future of this nation depends on the Christian training of our youth.”

“Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics.”

These are just a few of the many quotes by George Washington for you to ponder and see that it was God only who established Civil Authority.

Please turn with me to Romans 13:1-8 (FF), “Let every life be obedient to the governing authorities, for there is no government except from God. And the existing authorities are appointed by God; so that the opponent of the authority resists God’s appointment, and the opponents encounter punishment. For the governors are not a terror to well-doers, but to the criminal. And if you wish not to be in terror of the government, do right; and you will be approved by it; for it is the servant of God for your good. But, if you do wrong, fear; for it carries not the sword in vain; because it is a servant of God, showing displeasure to those who do ill. Therefore, it is necessary to obey; not only because of its displeasure, but for the sake of conscience. Consequently, pay taxes; for they are God’s officers attending to that. Give to all their due; to the tribute holder, tribute; to the taxer, taxes; to the mighty, respect; to the honorable, honor. Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for he who has loves his neighbor has fulfilled law”.

As a double witness, turn to I Peter 2:13-14 (FF) “Be subject to every human institution for the sake of the Lord; whether to a king, as supreme; or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of criminals, and for the approval of the well-conducted”.

We, as Christians, may not like the appointed leader in office but we are told to pray for that leader or leaders as it is God who appointed the existing authorities.

Our forefathers had it right when the Revolutionary War broke out and John Adams and John Hancock were at the home of Rev. Jonas Clarke, a Lexington pastor and militia leader. That very same night, Paul Revere sounded the cry of the approaching British soldiers. The next morning, British Major Pitcairn, shouted to the assembled American militia, the Minutemen, “Disperse ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England.” And the militia’s response was: “We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus.”

Here is a perfect example of using Acts 5:29 (NIV) where Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” As a Christian, we are told to love thy neighbor as thyself, but, in the case such as war, the situation warranted one must obey God and trust in the word of the Bible.

Our forefathers were not looking for a “king” for they had enough of over taxation, colonies were not allowed to trade with other colonies, and the implementation by the British Parliament to pass the Stamp Act, the Townsend Act and the Tea Act to increase Great Britain’s revenue and to assist in building their treasuries from the previous war.

As we say, then was then and now is now and our people decided that it was better to have a “king” instead of a servant of God who was appointed by God.

America has had several “kings” and several men of God—some who have acted like Saul and some who have acted like David. As you read 1 Samuel 8:9 bear in mind that the Lord gives Samuel the following warning of what the King who will reign over them will do.

1 Samuel 8:10-18 provides insight from the Lord to Samuel to the people of the type of king that will reign over them. After reading the consequences, look at verse 18 (FF) And then you will shriek at the sight of your leader whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the EVER-LIVING will not answer you at that day!

Fast forward to this day and verse 19 comes into play—(NIV) But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.” The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”

Are, we as a people, no different? We clamor for a king over us, one who will raise taxes and place a heavy yoke on each of us, a king who will make our sons and daughters go to needless wars, a king who rid of the ten commandments, prayer in the schools, a king who protects the criminal and not the innocent, a king who supports abortion, a king says one thing and does the opposite so he can get elected.

And, as George Washington said: “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

In closing, let us remember Patrick Henry’s quote: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!”

Our battle cry— “We have no King, But King Jesus!” And to remember that the existing authorities are appointed by God and that they need our prayers.

May you Bless God in all that you say and do!