Samuel, a faithful prophet of the Lord calls Israel to once again repent. And before their very eyes, once again God delivers Israel from the Philistines. And yet, it seems God is not enough. Israel wants a king. They want to be like all the other nations...
"What should I do?" Samuel cries out to God. God tells Samuel, "It's okay. They aren't rejecting you. They are rejecting me. Give them a king!"
Wow! Do we also hunger to be like those around us? Rather than depending on God, rather than trusting on God, do we desire to put our trust in people, in resources, in man's wisdom?
I thought it was interesting in today's reading of 1 Samuel Israel is demanding and king, and in today's reading of Mark 11, Israel actually receives her King -- Christ Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding on a colt. Everyone is so excited, "Hosanna! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." And yet the Kingdom that Christ came to set up was not a kingdom of this world. And because of that, once the party was over... the majority of the crowd walked away. They didn't want a king that came with a cross.
Let's reflect on what Ellen White says about the triumphal entry:
Never before in His earthly life had Jesus permitted such a demonstration. He clearly foresaw the result. It would bring Him to the cross. But it was His purpose thus publicly to present Himself as the Redeemer. He desired to call attention to the sacrifice that was to crown His mission to a fallen world. While the people were assembling at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, He, the antitypical Lamb, by a voluntary act set Himself apart as an oblation. It would be needful for His church in all succeeding ages to make His death for the sins of the world a subject of deep thought and study. Every fact connected with it should be verified beyond a doubt. It was necessary, then, that the eyes of all people should now be directed to Him; the events which preceded His great sacrifice must be such as to call attention to the sacrifice itself. After such a demonstration as that attending His entry into Jerusalem, all eyes would follow His rapid progress to the final scene.
The events connected with this triumphal ride would be the talk of every tongue, and would bring Jesus before every mind. After His crucifixion, many would recall these events in their connection with His trial and death. They would be led to search the prophecies, and would be convinced that Jesus was the Messiah; and in all lands converts to the faith would be multiplied. (From The Desire of Ages, p. 571)Rather than seeking a king in this world, let our eyes be on the King of Glory!
Tomorrow's Reading: 1 Sam. 10-11 and Psalm 46-47
No comments:
Post a Comment