Essay 2 Good to be King
Essay 2: BIBL 105 Summer 2014 LUO: Dr. Robert Tims
‘Good to be King’
Matthew C ONeil
Being a King is good. The protection, food, pomp and circumstance, universal recognition, and all your medical needs are taken care of. The world today recognizes in England, one of the most famously known monarchies’. Although mostly symbolic, Eglands Kingdom is established and in effect for the people of Great Britain, and just recently a baby boy named George, born to the Queen’s grandson, who will someday become their King. A question to consider; when is it to be a King and it is not good? Answer; when the people chose the individual, but God has chosen someone else.
Consider the time of Samuel when Israel desired a King. The Judges of Israel where no longer effective and “…everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25b ESV) “Then all the elders gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him…appoint for us a king to judge us like the other nations.” (1 Samuel 8:4-5) God comforted Samuel by assuring him that it was not him, but God that they where rejecting. God therefore allowed Samuel to anoint the people’s choice in ‘Saul’ of the tribe of Benjamin. The people liked Saul, for he was tall and handsome. Basically, he looked good on the outside. I’m not sure, but I think the phrase “Don’t judge a book by the cover” may have applied to this situation. In Saul’s battle with the Philistines, chapter 13 of 1 Samuel, Saul’s army was heavily outnumbered and in retreat. While growing impatient waiting for God’s prophet Samuel, Saul decided himself to offer a burnt offering. This event was the final prideful character flaw of Saul, and Samuel pronounced, although the Lord would have established Saul’s kingdom over Israel, but instead his kingdom shall not continue. God said to Samuel “…I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commandments” (1 Sam. 15:11a) Thus, the
‘Good to be King’
Matthew C ONeil
Being a King is good. The protection, food, pomp and circumstance, universal recognition, and all your medical needs are taken care of. The world today recognizes in England, one of the most famously known monarchies’. Although mostly symbolic, Eglands Kingdom is established and in effect for the people of Great Britain, and just recently a baby boy named George, born to the Queen’s grandson, who will someday become their King. A question to consider; when is it to be a King and it is not good? Answer; when the people chose the individual, but God has chosen someone else.
Consider the time of Samuel when Israel desired a King. The Judges of Israel where no longer effective and “…everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25b ESV) “Then all the elders gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him…appoint for us a king to judge us like the other nations.” (1 Samuel 8:4-5) God comforted Samuel by assuring him that it was not him, but God that they where rejecting. God therefore allowed Samuel to anoint the people’s choice in ‘Saul’ of the tribe of Benjamin. The people liked Saul, for he was tall and handsome. Basically, he looked good on the outside. I’m not sure, but I think the phrase “Don’t judge a book by the cover” may have applied to this situation. In Saul’s battle with the Philistines, chapter 13 of 1 Samuel, Saul’s army was heavily outnumbered and in retreat. While growing impatient waiting for God’s prophet Samuel, Saul decided himself to offer a burnt offering. This event was the final prideful character flaw of Saul, and Samuel pronounced, although the Lord would have established Saul’s kingdom over Israel, but instead his kingdom shall not continue. God said to Samuel “…I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commandments” (1 Sam. 15:11a) Thus, the