Samuel No.7 Being like others

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Good and upright is he. The God of faithfulness and without injustice. Good and upright is he.

1 Samuel chapter 8 and reading from verse 1. When Samuel grew old he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways.

They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways.

Now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have. 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 as their king, but me. 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. 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 do. 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 plough his ground and to 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 men servants and maid 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 the day comes you will cry out for relief from the king who you have chosen.

And 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.

Then we shall be like all the other nations. With a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles. When Samuel heard all that the people said he repeated it before the Lord.

The Lord answered, listen to them and give them a king. Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, everyone is to go back to his town. Now let's turn in the word of God to that passage Steve read to us.

1 Samuel in chapter 8. And let me read again the seventh verse. Or rather the sixth verse. 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 as their king, but me.

Let's take the fifth verse also. They said to Samuel, you're old. Your sons do not walk in your ways.

Now appoint a king to lead us. Such as all the other nations have. It's not my intention to tell you the reason why.

At least to go into any historical digression. But generally speaking, if people came to this congregation from outside. They would describe you and me as being non-conformists.

In other words, we don't find ourselves at least today. Though many of us would have no specific objection. We don't find ourselves in an Anglican church.

The state church. And if you went back some decades, a couple of centuries. You would have found that not to have conformed to the state church.

Could have brought you into great difficulty. Today we are in happier times. But we find ourselves for some reason, some deliberate, some just accidental.

We find ourselves in a congregation of non-conformists. Now it's not really so much that use of the word non-conformist. That I want to draw your attention to.

As the meaning that's given to that term. If you think through very carefully. That fifth verse of 1 Samuel 8. Where some men come along to Samuel.

And they say that they want a particular request. So that they can conform to the life patterns that other nations have. Let me try to explain what all this is about.

Particularly for the benefit of visitors here. You see, we're rushing our way through 1 Samuel. And we're in the 8th chapter.

And it's my belief that what is found within these chapters. From the Old Testament. Has relevance to our lives today.

And so we're looking into a historical incident. And we're going to review the whole of the context of that incident. And we're going to say, Lord what is it that you want to teach us.

In 1986 from this particular chapter. Now the basic problem in this chapter. Is the problem of not being a non-conformist.

Nothing to do with the religious sense. Let me be more explicit. A very representative number of the leaders of the Israelite nation.

Come to Samuel. You read that in the fourth verse. Samuel is the great judge of Israel.

Actually he's domiciled. He's resident in a place called Ramah. That's the home of his family.

And probably was the home of his parents. And these men they come to Samuel. And they make a specific request.

That they say of this very wise and very elderly leader. You are old. And your sons do not walk in your ways.

Now appoint a king to lead us. Such as all the other nations have. We don't really want to be different from the others.

We don't want to be non-conformists. And there are certain reasons why you ought to grant to us a king Samuel. And so we've come.

A bunch of us. Representative of a total nation. And we want to tell you this.

We don't want to be different from anybody else. Who lives in surrounding lands. Now this request it fills Samuel with great displeasure.

He was very upset about it. And he remembered from his old mother Hannah. That when he got distressed.

The best thing to do was to take it to the Lord. So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord listened.

To what Samuel had to say. Now what I want to do is to take that little incident. And review it before you today.

And first of all I want to weigh up the logic of the requests. Of these men. That the Israelites ought to be given a king.

I want to weigh it up. And then from what Samuel has to say. I want to size up the future.

To size up the future for the Israelites. If their request is granted. And then when I've done all that.

I want to try and write up some abiding lessons. Write up some abiding lessons. Alright that's my little scheme.

So let's go to it. And see what we can find. As we gather all the contents of this chapter together.

Under those headings. First of all we're going to weigh up the logic. These men come to the elderly Samuel.

And they make their request. Now listen before we start. Just opening this up.

Whenever you've got something that you particularly want. Becomes almost an obsession in your life. Be very careful.

In your own reasoning. In evaluating it. You see whenever you want something desperately.

It could be the case that your reasons combine. Can have within them. Something that's erroneous.

And something that's fully acceptable. A mixture of truth and error. For example.

Some people would desperately like to be married. Now I mean that. I'm using this illustration quite seriously.

Desperately would like to be married. And the Bible indicates that marriage is a very honorable institution. The authorized version bluntly puts it from Hebrews.

That the bed is undefiled. But you see you could so want to be in that state. That it becomes such an obsession.

That everything else can peter into insignificance. And all the biblical. All the biblical qualifications.

That are put into marriage about not being unequally yoked. And so on and so forth. Are cast on one side.

And you forget all about those. There's a good reason. Behind your objective.

But when your objective is placed within the line of the context of scripture. You can suddenly discover. That though there was nothing dishonorable about what you wanted.

The way that you were going about achieving your aim. Was completely unbiblical and unhelpful. Now here are these people.

And they've got a logical argument. As to why they need a king. And there is a mixture of error.

And a mixture of truth. In the way that they're presenting their case. Look they say to Samuel.

You're an old man. That's the first reason. Rather a cruel reason.

But nonetheless a valid reason. He was an old man. Look at the first verse of the eighth chapter.

When Samuel grew old. And of course when a man who's been in leadership. Is getting on in years.

It's right that people with perception. Look to the future. And wonder who is going to take his place.

And so they say Samuel you're old. And we do need a successor. And what's more Samuel.

Your sons. They don't walk in your ways. Now there was truth in that.

Samuel had two sons you remember from the reading. The first was called Joel. And that means God is or Jehovah is God.

We have frustratingly little information given us about Samuel. His domestic life. Who he married.

When he had the children. Or when she had the children. My suggestion is that the first child was born.

Just after the events of the preceding chapter. For it seems as though decades. Have elapsed between chapter 7. And chapter 8. You remember that preceding chapter.

It's one of great illumination. It's one of great encouragement. All the Israelites come together.

They upend a stone of memorial to the Lord. And they say hitherto hath the Lord helped us. And in effect they're saying as a nation.

We've returned to the Lord. Under the leadership of Samuel. And I can imagine Samuel going back home.

Assuming his wife was pregnant at that time. And as she gives birth to the child. So he takes the name Joel.

Yahweh is God. And he places that as his choice. For a name for his infant.

And then later on. Abijah is born. Jehovah is father.

And both these two boys. Samuel must have hoped. Would one day follow him.

As leaders. As judges of Israel. Indeed to that office they were appointed.

But they were abysmal failures. In what they did. They didn't follow through.

The example of Samuel. Unfortunately the sons of the ministry. Throughout Christendom.

Alas with some exceptions. Have not contributed much. In the area of spiritual piety.

To the cause of Christ. You cannot inherit grace. You cannot necessarily be a spiritual man.

Or a spiritual woman. Because your father, your mother. Were spiritual people.

You can't inherit grace. And you see the predicament. These people they want a leader.

Samuel is old. A recognized fact. His sons well.

They don't bear any resemblance. In their lifestyle to Samuel. They are no good.

And so the third piece of logic is applied. You are old. Your sons don't walk in your ways.

Now appoint a king to lead us. I wonder how Samuel reacted. The first two things.

He must have acknowledged as being accurate. But the third. A king.

To lead them. Such as all the other nations have. Don't these people recognize.

That despite the failings. Of my family circle. To produce a leadership for them.

None the less. This nation is destined by God. To be a different nation.

Leviticus chapter 20. Makes it very clear. That the Israelite community.

Were to be special to the Lord. They were to look to surrounding neighborhoods. And base their style of life.

On those heathen pagan practices. You see my dear friend. As you update this.

And put it through the New Testament. And then apply it to 1986. You are driven to the conclusion.

That discipleship brings with it. I use the word in its classic literal sense. It brings with it a commitment to non-conformity.

The greatest non-conformist in the world. Was Jesus Christ. He wouldn't live the way that others lived.

He wouldn't behave the way that others behaved. And when he brought a bunch of men to follow him. He made it very clear.

In the instruction that he gave to them. That he anticipated. That they would have a lifestyle.

Which would be diametrically opposed. To everything that they saw. More or less in the Palestine of that day.

How are you trying to serve Jesus Christ? Is there anything that differentiates you? That marks your life out? This congregation of people. Let's contrast it with a meeting. Shall we have a political party here in Worthing? I don't care what party.

Let's take 500 of those. And put them alongside this congregation. Is there that within the latter that contrasts with the former? Is there anything that delineates.

That is a line of demarcation? Or is there nothing in our lifestyle. That indicates that as for us. We name the name of Jesus Christ.

You see the essence of the teaching of the apostle Paul is this. Be not conformed to this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

It has been said that. When the boat is on the sea. It goes well.

But when the sea is in the boat. Then it will capsize. When the church sails on the world.

So to speak. It does well. But when the world gets within the church.

Then the church and its message. Capsizes. You see this is the reason why Samuel here is reacting.

Against the argument of these people. In one sense there is a tinge of logic there. As there generally is.

If you have got something that is basically honorable in your mind. You are old. Your sons don't walk in your ways.

Now give us a king. For this reason. That we might be like all other nations.

And if you want to be like the rest. If you want to be like the Joneses. Then pour out your arguments.

And let me have them all. And I will put them on the balances. And I will demonstrate to you from scripture.

That you are weighed and you are found wanting. Because you cannot be a disciple on that basis. The problem of being like the others.

You see it is a denial of all that you read of in the earlier chapter. There they were saying. Hitherto the Lord has helped us.

From now on we will live in the way that he wants us to go. But the decades pass. And that evangelistic cutting edge has been blunted.

And when you move into the eighth chapter. They want to compromise with the rest of the nations. Not to be distinct but to merge with them.

And I tell you my friend. That has been one of the greatest temptations that the church has had to resist. And very often has not to its cost.

Has not resisted down the centuries. The challenge to non-conformity. To be different.

So dear old Samuel here. He is very upset indeed. And he brings his burden as I indicate to the Lord.

And when he has spoken to the Lord about it. He is then directed to size up the future. For the Israelites.

Now this terminology I am using. It is alliteration to help you. Weighing up and sizing up.

But I would do less than justice to my text. If I didn't indicate that all my thinking is really propelled by the context of what I read here in scripture. Look at the eleventh verse.

He said, Samuel said, this is what the king who will reign over you will do. Now if words have got any meaning at all. Then I am right in saying that Samuel is sizing up.

Sizing up the future for these people. If they have a king to reign over them. Like the other nations.

As they so desire. Now what is going to be the problem if these people get the wrong ruler? Well, says Samuel, it is going to affect three aspects of your life. First of all it will affect your family life.

Then it will affect your financial life. And then it will affect your life of faith. It will interfere with you domestically.

If you are committed to a wrong leadership. If you submit yourself to something that is outside of the purposes of God. Then ultimately it will, if not destroy.

It will cause your family life to deteriorate. Now that is precisely what happened, isn't it? Those of you who know something of the history of the remaining chapters of Samuel. And on into the books of Kings and Chronicles.

You could give me X number. X standing for a very large denominator. A very large number of instances of this.

The kings came. Now what happens when kings come? Well, they want people to look after them. They need armies.

They need palaces. They have their projects. Ah, says Samuel, when the king comes this is what the king will do.

He will take your sons and he will make them serve with his chariots. And says Samuel, he will take your daughters, verse 13. To be perfumers and cooks and bakers and so forth.

He will affect family life. Submit to a wrong leadership and you are in trouble. And what's more, financially you will deteriorate.

He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves. And give them to his attendants and so on and so forth. But the greatest tragedy is this.

Says Samuel, when you step out of the will of God, verse 18. When that day comes you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen. And the Lord will not answer you in that day.

You see the trauma here, my friend. You see the tragedy. Samuel sizes up.

Here these people have come along. They have refused to be non-conformists. That they want something which is out of the purposes of God.

At least in the way that they are arguing for it. And when Samuel takes a glimpse into the future. He sees disaster amongst the family.

He sees disaster amongst the economy. He sees disaster within the religious life of the people. Now isn't that demonstrably true throughout the whole of Christian history? Right into the 1980s.

You see if you make allowances in your life for that which is displeasing to God. Then even though he does not give up on you. The quality of your life suffers as a result.

What was the reason why the epistles were written? I'm now referring to the New Testament. Why is it that Paul and John who also wrote epistles. Why did they pen those epistles? Well you see they were very concerned were they not.

For the future well-being of the churches. Be it the church at Ephesus. Be it the church at Colossae.

Or those seven churches in Asia Minor. To which reference is made in Revelations 2 and 3. They're very concerned. They're very concerned that these churches are governed by leaders that God has granted to them.

And that these churches are controlled as a result of God's wishes for them. Now unless these things are implemented. Says the Apostle Paul when he's speaking to the elders.

As he's taking his leave by the seashore. By the Mediterranean seashore. He said unless you do this.

Then when I've moved from you wolves will come in. And they will harm the congregation. They will despoil your testimony.

And when you read through into Revelations 2 and 3. You'll find exactly the same thing that happens. Certain warning notes are given. What's the problem? Well those churches they're becoming conformed to the world in those days.

And as a result of it. Unless they look to their laurels. So to speak.

Then their witness will be taken from them. And the church will be utterly eliminated. This is always a dreadful possibility.

When you start to live your life. Not according to the will of God. But according to your own purposes and desires.

So Samuel here. He summons up all that's going to happen. He comes to the people.

He's been before the Lord. And as a preacher he now relays the words to the people. And he warns them.

About the problem with the family. About the problem with the finances. About the problem with their faith.

And as he starts to preach. He discovers that he doesn't have sensitive ears within his congregation. It's the most disastrous of sermons.

As far as getting a proper verdict is concerned. Look at the 19th verse. But the people refused to listen to Samuel.

No, they said. Or as the A.V. puts it. Nevertheless.

Despite all these things that you are predicting. We want a king over us. And they repeat the argument.

Then we shall be like all the other nations. With a king to lead us. And to go out before us and fight our battles.

You know my friend. This is so contemporaneous. I mean by that.

It's so up to date. That's the thing about the New Testament. And the Old Testament.

When you really give concentration. You discover that the very principles that are embodied there. And the failures that you find on the pages of scripture.

Are reproduced in the 20th century. Do you know why some of us are as we are spiritually at a low? Well you see. We refuse to be non-conformists.

We know what the express purposes of God are in certain areas of our lives. But we feel that we are better than God. Our knowledge is greater than that of the Lord.

One of the great problems for the disciples was acknowledging the Lordship of Christ. Peter had difficulties in that area. Throughout almost the whole of his discipleship.

You see he was a successful man. And that's a problem. When a successful man comes to Christ.

Successful at the business level. It's easy for him to transfer that egoism. That self confidence into his spiritual life.

So that when the Lord tells him to do a certain thing. He will say not so Lord. That's a bundle of contradictions.

You can't say he's Lord and say not so. But that does happen doesn't it? I speak to youngsters. Relationships with girls.

With fellows. Who are not Christian. With a view to getting married to them.

You can't do it. Not to remain true to the teaching of Scripture. And be in the very center of God's blessing.

Marriage is honorable. But not a yoke that is uneven. That's what the Bible teaches you see.

In every area of our life. The Bible is asking that we are consistent. And that we allow ourselves to be so directed by the Holy Spirit.

That our lives don't conform to the standards of this world. See it's no use you telling me well this is what so and so does. And this is what is accepted in our culture.

Christianity does not baptize culture. Culture can be very devious. Culture can become very pagan.

But the truths of the Christian message. They are constant and they remain forever. And so poor Samuel has this negative response.

After preaching so winsomely. So fervently in such a warning fashion to the people. No they say we know what you have been teaching.

We recognize your ministry down the years. But in this Samuel we will not follow you. So we've weighed up their logic.

There was truth and error there. They wanted a king because Samuel's sons were not fit to take his place. They wanted a king because Samuel well he was an old age pensioner.

And he'd soon be in heaven. And there was truth in that. But then the king that they required was one to be comparable to the kings in all the surrounding nations.

And that was unacceptable. So when Samuel weighs it up and sizes up the future. He spells out the terror of what will happen.

And indeed it did. Israel soon split into two separate nations. And ultimately it lost its religious and political identity.

Now I've got a few minutes left. Let's write up the abiding lessons. Actually I've been dipping into them as I've been going along.

You see there are abiding lessons in the Old Testament for us to latch on to in modern times. That's why Paul when he's writing to the Corinthians speaks of the Old Testament. He says in the first chapter or the first letter that bears that name.

And in the 11th verse 1 Corinthians 10-11. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us. On whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

In other words if you've got a grain of sense says Paul. Learn by the mistakes of previous generations. So let's write up some abiding lessons shall we.

And there are many but I'll settle for a few. The first is this. It's complicated to start with but think it through and it'll make sense to you.

The legitimate can be invalidated by false reasoning. All right let's try again. The legitimate can be invalidated by false reasoning.

You see basically and here I differ from the commentators as is often alas my case. Basically there was nothing wrong with asking for a king. You see Abraham had been promised way back in Genesis that from his loins amongst his descendants there would come a king.

And Jacob had had the same promise repeated to him. Genesis 17-16, Genesis 35 and verse 11. You see there was nothing wrong in the Israelites hoping that one day in God's grace the king of Israel would come.

Where they went wrong was the timing. They didn't ask the Lord if that moment had arrived. And as I've indicated to you the reasoning.

You see there's nothing sometimes wrong with the thing that you're asking for. But if you're using the wrong reasons to get it then it could become a disaster for you. In one sense there's nothing wrong in asking to be rich.

It's not dishonorable to be rich. But if materialism becomes an obsession to you then your very blessings of being rich conversely becomes a curse. So you can invalidate something that is honorable by bringing out the wrong reasons.

By not asking Lord is this what you want me to be in life? Where do you want me to go? They never asked that they worked it through themselves you see. So they come to the Lord and they invalidate what was reasonable by false reasoning. And what's more? They settle for less than the best.

People do that don't they? Look at Esau. What do you think he would do if he could have a rerun of his life? Have that bowl of soup? Or the mess of pottage? Those of you who are reading from the authorized version you remember the story? He settled for some soup and gave his birthright to Jacob. How terrible to settle for something less than God's best.

Israel here was asking for a king. Now when this king comes they haven't asked the Lord that the right man would come. That the timing would be correct.

When this king comes he will be an exacting king. He'll take. He takes of their family.

He takes of their wealth. Ultimately he'll take of their faith. But the king that God had in store for Israel.

In his line of thought. In his ideal will. Was not an exacting king but a bestowing king.

Paul says of the king that God wanted to give Israel the son of man who loved me and gave himself for me. He said of himself speaking not as a king but as a shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

On one occasion he's addressing a woman and he said if thou hadst known the gift of God. And he it is who speaks with thee. Thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water.

You see the king that God had in mind for Israel. Was a bestowing king. Not an exacting king.

The Israelites they got in on the act too early. They didn't ask for God's permission. What they had in mind was not necessarily dishonorable.

But the way they went about it was disastrous. And they missed God's best as a result. There's something else my friend.

You need to be warned about annoying God. Hosea 13 and verse 11 says I gave them a king in my anger. I do not want what God gives in his anger.

That can work out to be a disaster. For me. Some people have spent a lifetime with what they imagined to be a blessing.

And it's turned out to be a perennial buffeting for them. God gave them. But he gave out of his anger.

And they suffered a lifetime as a result. As these folks are saddled with kings that did not really in the long term. Live up to the name of good monarchs.

These friends rejected the word of God you see. Listen to all that the people are saying says the Lord to Samuel. They've not rejected you.

They've rejected me. My friend sometimes some of you I speak advisedly and weighing every word now as I come to a conclusion. Some of you from this pulpit have heard the word of God.

Not necessarily from my lips. But you've heard it. You knew that that in the act of preaching became God's word to you.

You heard it. You recognized it. You're a rational intelligent person.

You listened to it. But you did not act on it. And in the refusal to act on what God says from his word.

You reject not the preacher. That's utterly inconsequential whether you reject or accept a preacher. Whether you admire him or lose him.

You reject the God of the preacher to your eternal loss. The final thing. God has a permissive will.

God has a permissive will. He is absolutely sovereign but within that sovereignty though I don't understand it. He makes room for the responsibility of men and women.

Says Joseph Parker a preacher of an earlier decade. There is a point at which God withdraws from the contest. My spirit shall not always strive with men.

If we be so minded we can force our way back through all the solemn warnings. All the paths of entreaty. All the earnest persuasiveness on the part of friends, husband, wife, teacher, preacher, father, son and Holy Ghost.

We can go to hell if we will. Strong words. The challenge of this text is a challenge to non-conformity.

To acknowledge the sovereignty of God in your life. To appreciate the man that he has given us. King of kings and Lord of lords.

And to submit yourself to him and to his voice as you hear it through scripture. Or re-echoed by those whose ministry it is to expound the word of the Lord. And having heard that the challenge of this passage is to act on it.

Because if you don't you will find that in the area of your domestic life. In the area of your business. In the area of your faith.

You will suffer. The challenge of 1 Samuel 8 is a challenge of non-conformity. May God help you to rise to it.

Amen. Let's sing together 464 in hymns of faith. The Lord is King.

I own his power. His right to rule each day and hour. Now you're not all going to sing this.

I really mean this. Can I just continue for a moment Betty please. You're not all going to sing.

Because you see what you're singing here. Can only really be repeated by people who've been challenged by what I have to say. I can't allow you to listen to the address that I brought this morning.

To then in a sort of parrot fashion say. Yes I'll take this hymn out of the 19th century. And I'll sing it through without really meaning it.

The Lord is King. I own his power. Now don't sing that unless you do.

His right to rule each day and hour. He claims my heart. He claims my hands.

He claims my lips. He claims the brightness of my youth. Interpret that as you like.

Liberally. I will. But it is saying Lord you have exclusive right over my life.

And I will respond to you. Even though I have during these last years perhaps allowed my life to fossilize into certain areas. That are displeasing to you.

The things that I don't do that I should be doing. There are things that I don't do that I ought to be doing. And now look I'm going to make a corrective.

I've heard that fellow preach. Do you know this is my first Sunday of my 17th year here. And sometimes I've told you I brought the word of God.

And it's not made any response in the hearts of some to whom it's been directed. And sometimes I've glibly allowed you to sing this hymn. I feel almighty God saying and I weigh my words.

Not now. Not today. Not this morning.

If these people sing this hymn. Then let them sing it because they mean it. Let them sing it because this is a response to the word that you've brought.

No longer are they going to conform. No longer are they going to compromise. But by my grace and by the power of my Holy Spirit.

They're going to live lives that are far more consistent. Even though for some of them it's going to mean jumping over a few prejudices. That they've allowed to to come in and be an obstacle to them.

During these last few years. Now on that basis my friend. Humbly lovingly as pastor.

One of the pastors in this in the town. Then I ask you to join with me singing it. And as we sing it those of us who dare.

Let's ask the Lord to make it possible for us. To give to him. What we are now covenanting.

In these verses. Obedience. 464.

Thank you. Now lord as we've responded to the teaching of your word. Help us to live it through.

Father, the greatest tragedy in Israel was that when you sent them the king, your choice, they said they'd rather have Caesar than him, and suffered for 2,000 years as a result. Now Lord, we'd be wiser than that. We hail King Jesus.

We take him as our Lord. Help us to yield to his lordship in every area of our mind, in every area of our activity, in every relationship that we have. We ask that we may honor and bless him this week, and know the smile of your approval as a result.

For the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.