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, but they have rejected me as their king. 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 claim as his rights.’” (I Samuel 8:4-9 NIV)
And so it begins. With the Iowa caucuses last night, the 2016 presidential election campaign is now in full swing. And like every campaign, many people think if their candidate prevails, he or she will change the direction of the country more to their liking. For some, Ted Cruz or Donald Trump is the answer; to others it is Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton. This year, in particular, it seems the voters are looking for a strong leader who will get things done and shake up the gridlock in Washington, as well as keep us safe from threats from around the world.
It seems our bent is to look for someone in which to place our hope. We want someone in whom we can trust to look out for us and defend our interests. And after years of disappointment, that yearning is particularly strong. Yet, it was a mere eight years ago when the country was tired of politics as usual, of the divided state of our country, and longed for a change. I can still recall the jubilation, particularly among college students, when Barak Obama won the presidency. They believed they had found their answer to America’s problems and change was on its way.
The Israelites were in a similar mindset. They were looking for change. They were weary of the way things were and threats to their nation abounded. God had been their Leader, but they wanted change—to be like other nations and to have an earthly king rule them. They were convinced that was the answer. However, a casual reading of I and II Samuel, along with I and II Kings, will demonstrate how wrong they were. In fact, the Lord said their desire for a king was a direct rejection of Him.
In the midst of this presidential cycle, this should give us all pause. No human can change this nation for the better unless first the people are willing to humble themselves before the Lord. For all of those who thought President Obama was the answer back in 2008, this should be quite clear, as it should be for those who supported George W. Bush before him. Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, or whoever becomes our next president, will not be the savior of this country. Only the Lord can do that.
Today, if you think the country is in need of change, don’t make the mistake of the Israelites in thinking a president will make all the difference. Rather recognize it is the Lord who is the true King and only through Him can real change occur. You can pray for the right person to be elected, you can vote for whom you think will make the best president, but never put your hope in him or her. Our only true hope is found in the Lord.
© Jim Musser 2016
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