Bull-Headed; Fool-Hearted
1 Samuel: Focusing on the Heart • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsIsrael's rejection of God in favor of a king
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Introduction
Introduction
Regrets:
Working too much
Saving too little
Taking that job
Not fighting for a marriage
Holding on to a grudge
Not finishing/following through on _____________________
Not taking care of my health
How many of these regrets look back upon a trail of ignored and neglected warnings?
You should be careful how many hours you’re putting in.
You should be sure you’re saving for retirement.
Are you sure you want to take that job, have you thought this through?
Don’t let these little fights with your wife build up, y’all should get help.
It’s not worth it to stay angry at that person for so long.
One day you’re going to wish you had finished that project.
It’s important to take care of your body.
We knew better, at least we thought we did.
Israel makes the same mistake in our passage.
How can you make sure you won’t have even more regrets in the future?
Following directions. I’m an only child, which also makes me a firstborn, so for me, there is no alternative to following directions. I will follow the directions of the back of a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese to a “t” because that’s what you’re supposed to do. My wife on the other hand, being a much better cook and more experienced, can go off recipe and make whatever she is cooking or baking taste even better that way. Or take my daughter, she’s my second-born, and she doesn’t really care about directions or how something is to be played with. All of her Lego girls are bald. She doesn’t like their hair, so she just takes it off. That makes me skin crawl.
(Another option for intro: Where is your trust? “I know whom I have believed.”)
We've had hurricane warnings before, but they've never turned into anything beyond high winds, lots of rain, and minimal flooding. Our kids — aged 15, 14, 13, 12, and ten — were scared at first, but they've learned to take all the weather in stride. The more prepared we are, the less afraid they are. They've also seen how often the warnings come; this isn't their first drill. And there's still a 50/50 chance that Irma will still change course and miss us.
There are times when it’s okay to go off-script like in following a recipe or playing with Legos. But when it comes to obedience to the Lord, there’s really never a time that it’s okay to go off-script, or to just adhere loosely to the directions. When it comes to following the Lord, to being submissive and obedient to him, it’s an all or nothing proposition. That’s a lesson we need to learn, and it’s a lesson that Israel needed to learn in the passage before us tonight/this morning.
There’s wisdom for you. Trusting in your ability to board up your house against the hurricane force winds of a natural disaster. Trusting in your toughness over and against the countless warnings and mandatory evacuation calls from the people who study these things for a living.
Maybe you haven’t been there, but maybe you’ve made the same error of putting too much confidence in yourself, of ignoring warnings and pleas to change course.
Maybe you’ve been in financial straits and trusted your own ability to dig yourself out of your debt only to find yourself spiraling further and further into the red.
Or perhaps your marriage has been on the rocks for some time but rather than seek out counseling you would rather grin and bear it and put on the facade to make everyone think you’re doing just fine.
These are all examples of trusting in ourselves, in our own plan or wisdom over and against the counsel and advice of others.
In our text today Israel finds themselves in a similar situation. We’re going to find two steps to take with every desire, longing, or plan in our lives to make sure that we’re not found trusting a piece of plywood in the face of the hurricanes of life.
What happens when we choose not to trust the Lord’s design, His plan, His will for our lives? How can we guard against this error in our own lives? How can we know that we are on track with God’s design for our lives?
Grab your Bibles and make your way to 1 Samuel 8.
Body
Body
End of chapter 7 is essentially a summary of Samuel’s ministry.
End of chapter 7 is essentially a summary of Samuel’s ministry.
Chapter 8 opens then near the end of his ministry with a problem.
8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
Chapter 8 opens then near the end of his ministry with a problem.
8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
The elders come to Samuel with a proposed solution.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
A History of Israel: From the Bronze Age through the Jewish Wars The Philistines and the Rise of the Monarchy
While no attempt is made at being “monocausal” by centering on the Philistine oppression in the west and the Ammonite oppression in the east as the sole strong cause for the people’s sudden passion for the monarchy, the ominous nature of these pressures could not but have influenced and hastened whatever sentiment was already present.
In verse 6, Samuel describes the people’s request as an evil thing.
Samuel is initially offended considering this request an evil thing.
This was a grasp at security, a plan concocted in the minds of men without regard for the sovereignty of God.
In verse 6, Samuel describes the people’s request as an evil thing.
But it wasn’t Israel’s request for a king or their rejection of Samuel’s sons that was the problem.
Due
14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
Problem was in Israel’ desiring a king apart from God’s provision and timing: law had given permission but not a requirement.
The people were tired of not having a visible figurehead.
They were tired of going out to battle without a king to lead the charge.
They were tired of inconsistent judges.
They were tired of God’s leadership.
Rather than waiting on the Lord’s timing and plan for the nation, they took matters into their own hands and in the process they were sending God a very clear message.
1 Samuel 8:
7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
When we trust our wisdom/intelligence/logic over and above the Lord’s plan and timing we have fallen prey to idolizing our wisdom.
Always subject your wisdom to God’s sovereignty.
Always subject your wisdom to God’s sovereignty.
Your desires, your longings, your fears....subject all of it to trusting in God’s sovereignty.
This was not a sin of ignorance for Israel.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”
But now that wasn’t enough. They knew better than God. Their wisdom and the wisdom of the nations they longed to emulate was superior to the wisdom of waiting on the Lord.
Our proposals can be completely reasonable, clearly logical, obviously plausible — and utterly godless. - Dale Ralph Davis
Israel’s proposal seemed reasonable: something needed to be done about Samuel’s sons.
Israel’s proposal seemed logical: kings had worked well for their enemies.
Israel’s proposal was certainly plausible: there were 12 tribes, surely a king could be found among them.
But Israel’s proposal lacked any consideration of God’s sovereign plan for them.
What are the areas of your life you’ve been guilty of this? Where have you made a grab for security, or acted on an intense longing or desire apart from considering God’s plan for your life?
Career?
Move?
Major purchase?
Relationships?
Anytime we get out in front of God, anytime we act without prayer, without consulting the Lord’s wisdom on a matter, no matter how reasonable, logical, or plausible our plan may seem, we are wrong.
Always subject your wisdom to God’s sovereignty.
Always subject your wisdom to God’s sovereignty.
Nonetheless, God grants Samuel permission to give in to Israel’s demand for a king, but not without providing a warning first. (Legal terms)
8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
1 Samuel 8:8-
Notice the word “take” repeated 6x throughout this warning from Samuel.
A king would establish a standing military which meant he would take Israel’s sons.
A king would establish his administration which meant he would take Israel’s daughters.
A king would need property which meant he would take Israel’s property.
A king would need flocks which meant he would take Israel’s flocks.
A king would need labor which meant he would take Israel’s servants.
A king would effectively render the Israelites, slaves.
Israel’s response?
19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 3: How Samuel, When He Was so Infirm with Old Age that He Could Not Take Care of the Public Affairs, Intrusted Them to His Sons; and How, upon the Evil Administration of the Government by Them, the Multitude Were so Angry, that They Requ
6. (43) But the multitude was still so foolish as to be deaf to these predictions of what would befall them; and too peevish to suffer a determination which they had injudiciously once made, to be taken out of their mind; for they could not be turned from their purpose, nor did they regard the words of Samuel, but peremptorily insisted on their resolution, and desired him to ordain them a king immediately, and not to trouble himself with fears of what would happen hereafter, (44) for that it was necessary they should have with them one to fight their battles, and to avenge them of their enemies, and that it was no way absurd, when their neighbors were under kingly government, that they should have the same form of government also.
When we are confronted by the warnings of the Lord we must be ready and willing to respond as necessary.
Be willing to adjust course when your plans aren’t God’s plans.
Be willing to adjust course when your plans aren’t God’s plans.
Israel ignored Samuel’s warning, and wouldn’t you know it, just three kings into their grand plan they end up right where the Lord said they would.
4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.”
This was Israel’s opportunity to repent from their foolishness and to trust in God’s wisdom and plan.
But instead, they remained bull-headed and fool-hearted refusing to adjust their course to obey God’s plan for them.
We don’t have a divinely ordained prophet to correct us, but we do have....
The Holy Spirit
The Scriptures
Pastors/teachers
One another
Do you hold your plans loosely enough that you are willing to let them go if they are out of line with God’s will for your life?
9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-
ATAPAT demands such an outlook, such a mindset.
If you have a plan or aim in life that you’re unwilling to listen to counsel on, you’re unwilling to adjust course on, you’re wrong.
Be willing to adjust course when your plans are not God’s plans.
Be willing to adjust course when your plans are not God’s plans.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Israel went off-script when it came to following the Lord. Yes, He had provided for the possibility that a king would reign in Israel way back in , but His permission does not mean that it was His plan.
They traded trust in the Lord for trust in themselves. They failed to consider God’s sovereign plan for them and when confronted with the error of their ways, they refused to adjust course accordingly.
Israel drifted from the Lord’s wisdom, from the Lord’s will, and replaced His leadership with their own wisdom and desires. And even when they were confronted with the ramifications for their folly, they still persisted in their demands.
Have you done this? Is their an area of your life wherein you need to repent of going off-script from following the Lord? Have you allowed desires to supplant God’s sovereign wisdom and will in your life? Is their a pursuit you are currently engaged in that you need to bring before the Lord in prayer? Is there something in your life that you know is outside of God’s will for you, an area in which you need to adjust your course? If so, don’t wait. Tonight’s the night. Today’s the day.
Always subject your wisdom to God’s sovereignty.
That family from Florida had just witnessed the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, but rather than heeding the warnings and learning from the mistakes others had made, they chose to stay put. The article that I quoted from at the beginning of our time together ended this way: “The community that we’ve come to love so much will need us if the storm hits close to home, so we’re staying right here. Bring it on, Irma.”
And be willing to adjust course when you find that your plans are not God’s plans.
It’s amazing though that even in this rejection of God by His chosen people He would still weave His redemptive plan into place through the covenant He would one day make with King David. Israel departed from the Lord’s wisdom and will, but His wisdom and will never departed from the sovereign unfolding of salvation history.
Such foolishness is hard to wrap our minds around, and so is the foolishness of Israel at first glance. But if we’re honest with ourselves we’ve all been there and probably more than once. Take this text and examine your lives to see where you’ve played the part of Israel, trusting in your own wisdom even when it runs afoul of God’s plan for you.
If you need to repent, repent. If you need to adjust course in an area of your life that you know isn’t God’s will for you, stop and re-route. If you are pursuing something right now that you haven’t taken to the Lord in prayer, don’t go any further until you have.
And be willing to adjust course when you find that your plans are not God’s plans.
Let’s pray.