Is God an Anarchist? The Paradox of Statist Christians and the Book of Samuel.
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Is God an Anarchist?
While reading through the book of 1st Samuel, I came across a passage that got me thinking that God never wanted us to have men rule over us. Read for yourself this conversation with Samuel and think about what he is saying:
" 6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” "
Now, I'm not trying to convert anyone to anything, but this is an interesting verse to have in the back of your head when your "churchy" friends try to get you to vote this way or that. They are trying to get you to select kings to rule over you.
Now there is also the lifelong argument that God has the desire to rule over you. My response to that is who is the last person that Jesus or YHWH put in prison for smoking a joint or any other peaceful interaction overruled by mandates by men? None. His rules are natural rules based upon the way the world and human interaction are designed.
Thoughts? I'm all ears.
1 Samuel 8:4
...all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
Amen, Stan. God didn't force them to be without one, therefore not ruling over them by force
He would appear to be wouldn't he?
I think you need to look to the kingdom that God established in judges when the Israelites first took possession of the land and God established the law. God specifically established Himself as king and gave them the law. They had no need for earthly government and the creation of the kingdom was a definitive departure from his will, as you have just pointed out. The Bible also makes clear that Jesus Christ was the finality of earthly power. He is the descendant of David that will reign forever. The Rock that will stand forever.
thanks for posting, sorry your following isnt rich yet
Thanks, was hoping it'd get noticed:(
Excellent observations.
Hey, @tee-em,
I finally got around to reading your "Confessions" article as I had promised... Unfortunately, comments were already closed on it, and so I'm commenting here...
As a consequence of actually reading your articles (both of them) I've upvoted them and am following you. I hope to get back to your blog from time to time and pick up on things I've missed.
Have I begun applying everything from the "Confessions" article? Not yet; not enough time... but I now know where to look for a reminder. Thanks! ;)
Thank you for reading and comments. Following back