The choices in 1 Samuel 8

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Seeker47

Seeker47

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Aug 7, 2018
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With election hype in full flower, what are our responsibilities to YHWH, especially in light of 1 Samuel 8. In that chapter, the people foolishly rejected God and demanded a King. Do we run that same risk by trying to elect a leader instead of trusting God?

Just a couple of thoughts on this. “Kings” in the First Testament times held absolute power, and they held that power for as long as they wanted. Our president has neither absolute power nor unlimited terms. Also, in biblical times a few kings were anointed by prophets, but most assumed that status by the exercise of military power. In neither option did the people have a choice who ruled over them, yet they were still held accountable.

God holds us responsible for our corporate decisions, just like He holds us responsible for our individual choices. This principal is clearly stated by God through Samuel. We cannot, nor could the Israelites, avoid responsibility for our choices. We have an obligation to God to elect righteous leaders. Hiding our heads in the sand and saying, “Let God do it” is just not an option.

Further, let’s imagine a scenario where a clear difference is available. One choice is a believer, the other is not. Is not our decision then, subject to even greater scrutiny; and is not our responsibility even heavier?

God’s prohibition against electing an earthly king to replace him is still valid. God’s people will see that choice even clearer in the not-to-distant future. For now we must make our choice.
 
SonJudgment

SonJudgment

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Jun 25, 2024
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Kings are chosen by God so if that were the case there would be no election. In the American system the premise is that the citizen is in the role of the sovereign and the powers of the sovereign are thus diluted among the citizenry and thus we have an election to determine who presides over the government. As such the two most important features in a candidate for President typically boil down to 1. ability to govern and 2. their quality in representing the people. As such a good President has both a good talent for governance and is representative of the people. A mediocre President may have a good ability to govern but may not represent the people or might be poor at governing but he might represent the people. Lastly a bad President will be both incompetent in their ability to govern and will also not represent the people they serve.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

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Jul 18, 2017
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Seeker47 said:
With election hype in full flower, what are our responsibilities to YHWH, especially in light of 1 Samuel 8. In that chapter, the people foolishly rejected God and demanded a King. Do we run that same risk by trying to elect a leader instead of trusting God?[/QUOTE]We need to keep in mind that Israel was indeed the only theocracy with God as King, and it was foolish for Israel to demand a king under those circumstances. They were privileged to have God communicating with them either directly or through prophets. In the end they paid for this error.

Now when we come to the Republic of the United States, it is a totally different scenario. God never approved tyranny and the American patriots of the 18th century had a war of independence to break the yoke of British tyranny, followed by the Declaration of Independence.

This paragraph is critical: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

The first thing to note is that it is the Creator who is acknowledge right at the start, and it is the Creator who has given men those inalienable rights. The goal of independence was life, liberty, safety and the pursuit of happiness.

Following that the Founding Fathers drew up a unique Constitution of the United States of America. Since no nation other than Israel was a theocracy (which they rejected) God certainly approves of people having a government which they choose to "promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty".

Thus the Constitution states right at the beginning: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Then the Constitution states in Article. II. Section. 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows...

The Founding Fathers wisely separated the Executive branch from the Legislative and the Judiciary branches. So in view of the Constitution it is imperative that "the people" elect a president who will uphold the Constitution and what it stands for.

Coming to Donald Trump we see that because he wanted to make America great again and drain the Swamp, the entire Establishment became his enemy and Trump Derangement Syndrome (hatred for Trump) was promoted on all sides. In spite of that he served successfully as president (but also made quite a few blunders). At the same time he was sabotaged by the Democrats, the Republicans, and the Deep State, and impeached several times without success.

Now if every citizen (including Christians) sat down and read the Constitution, and noted that it was his or her responsibility to vote for the man who would uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, Trump would receive 100% of the votes. For those who doubt this kindly go to the GOP website and see Trump's 2024 platform. Not a single sane person can object to any of its goals. This is something of which God would approve, and God did bless America for a long time.

But what we have instead are DOMESTIC ENEMIES in America within the government, who have not be arrested by the Marines and Special Forces and made to stand trial. So they are now free to lie about everything including Trump. And when citizens are apathetic or brainwashed they will believe the lie that Kamala Harris -- who can't even put a sentence together -- is fully qualified to be the POTUS!
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