“But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now here is the kingyou have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! 15 But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.” 1 Samuel 12.12-15
Everyone reading this has or has had parents. Most parents give advice to their children; mostly it’s good, sometimes it’s not. But this is what loving and attentive parents do—we guide, direct, and help lead our children. A neglectful parent allows a child to do whatever he or she wants, but a faithful parent carefully shapes a child’s life so that life may be happy, healthy, and whole.
God is like a parent. He is like a mother even though He reveals Himself as Father. The children of Israel are His children, whom He loves deeply. Why does He love them? He chooses to do so. And because He loves them, He wants them to be blessed in this life, enjoying His blessings and a deep connection with Him.
If we read this passage in light of a father instructing his children, we acknowledge His grace and our human weakness. God outlines everything we need to do—essentially, love God, obey His voice, and avoid evil. But we, descendants of Adam and Eve, find rebellion in our nature. Yet, this is not who we were designed to be. We were created to be one with the Creator, one with the Spirit, one in communion with creation.
Although we recognize our inclination to sin, we must not sin willingly or allow the devil to tempt us to the point of sin. We must reject the evil within and without and step into the light of God’s love. “If you will obey,” says the Lord, “do not rebel against Him and follow His commands, you will be blessed.”
This world is messy. We often battle against God’s good and perfect will for our lives. But the blessings that abound when we lean into His love are better than life. Jesus has given us salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Let’s walk in His way, learn from the Israelites, and run from sin—obeying the loving Father, our Parent God.
“O Lord God, You are good and loving. Thank You for allowing us to walk in Your ways. Thank You for the power and peace You pour out upon us. Thank You for not forgetting us when we wander from Your path. Come now, Holy Spirit, draw us to Your throne. Help us know Your love. Save us by Your blood, for You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen