Crown with caution
1 Samuel Chapter 8 – 10:8
Chapter 8 of 1 Samuel, though rarely heard, is one of the most significant cautionary scriptures for the modern American political scene.
For many years, and accelerating with recent presidents of both parties, Americans have sought salvation in an increasingly imperial presidency. There is disagreement over what the president should do, but both ends of the political spectrum welcome leadership by dictate (at least as long as it’s their side in the White House).
Samuel’s warnings when the people of Israel want a king to lead them are still valid today.
The people believe a king will protect them, that he will be someone “to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
Kings, however, do not usually fight battles. The fighting—the dirty and dangerous work—tends to be left to others.
The king, Samuel warns, “will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses….some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and 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.”
As if the taking of sons and daughters for service isn’t enough, the king will also take possessions. “He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves….He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage….Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.”
The desire for a king, Samuel says, is nothing short of a rejection of God.
We may talk about humans as yearning for freedom, but there is also a yearning for the ease of giving up control to others.
In the New Testament, Paul addresses it in several places, notably in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Under the old covenant the law, if obeyed, set up a largely self-governing society. Conflict was handled by having a uniform set of rules to follow, and judges to referee any confusion.
In the new covenant of Jesus the law of love prevails. The rules are gone, but with that comes the even greater responsibility of loving neighbor as self, and doing all for the love of God. Both, though, place responsibility on individuals to understand and follow God’s rule.