"The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be King." (1 Samuel 16:1)
As I read this verse I couldn't help but compare this with Christians and this recent election. For many, the results of the election are not what we had hoped for. Whether we are mourning Bush or McCain's loss, we can't seem to wrap our heads around this idea that God HAS determined who shall be President. His ways are not our own, but never-the-less HE is in control.
In 1 Samuel 16 it goes on to tell of how Samuel visits Jesse and meets his sons...several who could certainly be king material...but who has God chosen...not the one people thought He would.
"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
Do you know the heart of a man? It's hard not to think you know somebody by what you have seen or by what others have said about them. The Lord sees and knows people differently than we do. It may be a stretch to think of our current political situations as relating to these Bible verses in 1 Samuel. But you know what...that is what the Lord was speaking to me about as I read these verses.
Further thoughts on our new President Elect:
I don't doubt for a second that God has put Obama in this position:
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Romans 13:1)
What I don't know is the reason that Obama is in this position. The way I see it, either God IS going to work through him and do wonderful things. Or...(as I have heard from many Christians) he is the precursor to the antiChrist. But even if the later is the case, there is nothing we can do about it...it is God's will. We don't know what is going to happen. I am hearing all sorts of things..."mark my words ____ is going to happen", "we have brought it on ourselves", I even heard "we must not have prayed enough." But the truth is 1) we don't know what is going to happen. 2) We don't really know who Obama really is. 3) We do know that God has picked him for our next president.
I am choosing to trust God and wait and see what He is going to do. How about you?
2 comments:
I totally agree with you Pamela. This election (and everything else) was/is in God's hands. We may not understand but it is His will.
I usually keep my thoughts about this private but I just have to say that throughout the election process, there was something about Sen. McCain and especially Gov Palin that made my soul uneasy everytime that I saw them or heard them. I am sure that they are both good people with good intentions but there was just something about them. My intentions were and always have been to support whoever gets elected into office with my support and my prayers. I think that America is such a blessed nation and we are where we are today because we as a people have forgotten the principles that this country was founded on. Principles that have stood the test of hundreds of years worth of time. God never makes mistakes, but he loves us enough to allow us to. The bible is full of examples of how he uses unlikely people to do extraordinary things. You used one of my favorites (David) in your example. We just have to keep our faith that everything is as it is supposed to be and to keep praying for our leaders. I truly didn't mean to make another long post and I hope that you don't take offense about the comments on Mc & Pa. Have a great night!
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