SATURDAY January 19, 2019
Turning a Deaf Ear
“And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”
1 Samuel 8:18
The children of Israel asked to be governed by a king like the other nations around them––an earthly king––not God. The Lord, knowing the future, described to Israel what their king would be like. King Saul would use the people to build his own kingdom and seek his own glory.
During Saul’s reign, he would have no real peace. He would disobey God and, in his rebellion, lose the kingdom. God would not put up with his rebellious behavior. In the end, the Spirit of God would depart from Saul, and an evil spirit would harass him. Saul’s life would not have a good end.
When Israel finally got what they wanted––a king, Samuel told them they would cry out to God, and He would not hear them. Under Saul’s reign, they would suffer. God basically told Israel, “I came to you, but you rejected Me as your King. Now you have to suffer the consequences. When you cry, I am not going to hear you.” Do you think through Samuel’s announcement they still had a chance to repent? I believe that they did––but they refused.
How sad it is when God turns a deaf ear to your cries! Of course He hears you, but He will not answer until you repent (Isaiah 59:2). God has turned you over to your own desires. It could be that after getting what you wanted, you are now stuck in a snare. Then you come to understand that the thing you wanted the most has brought utter defeat in your life.
There are so many lessons to learn from the Bible. It is important to learn the lessons God is trying to teach you.
Is God in very deed your God? For if He be, He will rule your soul; He will dominate your whole spirit, and sway His scepter over your whole heart.
~C.H. Surgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!