Jump Start # 259
1 Samuel 8:19 “Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, ‘No, but there shall be a king over us.’”
In our last Jump Start we saw where the people of Israel demanded to have a king over them, so they could be like the other nations. Samuel was old and his sons were wicked. God saw that in choosing a king, they were rejecting Him.
Samuel, pleads with the people. He tries to get them to see that the kings of the nations were not good. He warns them that the king will enslave your children (11), build the armies (12), take your lands (14), and tax you heavily (15, 17). You will regret ever having a king (18). Samuel painted a truthful but ugly picture of what was coming with a king. Some of these things would be fulfilled with the very first king, others in the following kings.
Our verse today is the response to Samuel’s warnings. The people “refused to listen…” It wasn’t that they couldn’t hear, nor, that that didn’t hear, but rather, they refused to listen. It was a choice.
Some people are just like that. We often call them stubborn. Their minds are made up and there is no changing. It is as if their brains are made of concrete and the concrete has set and become hard. I know stubborn because I see it when I look in the mirror. I have graduated from the school of stubborn, I was an honor student there. I recognize it and I try to fight it, but sometimes it just rises to the surface.
Stubborn gets along fine with everyone as long as it is doing what it wants. But the moment stubborn must do something he doesn’t want to, the concrete sets, the heels dig in and the pouting, grumpiness, complaining and excuse come. At this point stubborn is a threat to unity. The stubborn have a way of pressuring others to go along with his way and ideas. Stubborn in marriage is a tough way to go. Stubborn among brethren causes the leadership to age. The spirit of stubborn is “my way or the highway.” I’ve dealt with many stubborn brethren before. It’s not a pretty picture.
Now, let’s notice a few things. There is a world of difference between standing with God or standing upon the word of God and being stubborn. God tells us to stand fast and in other places to be immovable. That’s not stubborn. When we stand with God, we are holding fast to principle and conviction based upon the word of God. Stubborn is based upon self. I don’t like it, or, I don’t feel like it, or, I don’t want to. The foundation of stubborn is selfish. There is a difference—a big difference. We should not bow to error, or the stupid ways people try to change God’s plan and pattern. Never. Ever. Fight to the death on these things. Stubborn, however is based upon my having to do something, and I don’t want to. So I’m against it. Or, it is something different than what I am used to—not wrong with the Bible, just a newer or more efficient way. Some of us can be stuck in the 1960’s forever. The message doesn’t change, but how we approach things does. This is the age of color, movement, speed, technology, i.e., this very Jump Start is coming to you via the internet. Do you know there are some who think that this shouldn’t be done. Now, is it that they think we are violating something in the Bible, or it’s a new way of putting out the old message and they don’t like it?
The main problem with Israel is that they refused to hear. They remind me of the teenager that rolls their eye or the smaller child that puts their hands over their ears. It’s one thing to hear someone out, have an exchange, debate ideas and words and come to different conclusions. It is the height of stubbornness to simply “Refuse to listen.” And who are they not listening to? Samuel, God’s messenger. The very one they went to for permission for a king.
Stubbornness is something we have to fight. I know what goes through the heart of young preachers when they pour their selves into their lessons, giving reasons, verses and evidence as to why the congregation ought to be doing things, and nothing happens. NOTHING. No one disagrees. That would be better. Everyone goes home and nothing every changes. After a few short years, those young preachers either move or quit preaching. Why? Stubbornness. Stubbornness drains life.
When a person puts down the “I won’t do it” sign, gives it a try, he often finds he even likes the very thing he was against. Case in point—ME. My wife studied music in college. She loves classical music. I’d rather stick a pencil in my eye. I groaned every time she took me to the orchestra. I even feel asleep a few times. Shame on me. She could tell I was being a pill and a pain. But at one concert I was captured by the music. I actually paid attention. I started looking for things and noticing specific instruments. My kids started playing in high school and I’d go. I now have the classical radio station on my car radio. I will even tell my wife after a piece is played, who I think the composer was. I’ve nailed it a few times!
You see, fighting your own stubbornness not only makes life pleasant for everyone else, but it opens a new world to you. This is no more true than with God. When we dig our heels in and refuse to listen to Him, we only hurt ourselves.
Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, he must first, deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” It’s the denying self that is so hard. Give it a try. Believe me, you’ll like the new self so much better.
Roger