Bible Study Seattle

The 2016 U. S. elections and political climate surrounding the new president remind this author of some scenes in the bible.  The first is in 1 Samuel.  “As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.  But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.  “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”  1 Samuel 8:1-5

The leaders of Israel wanted prestige.  They wanted to be like other nations.

“So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.  The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.  He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.  He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.  He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.  He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.  When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”

But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.  “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.”  1 Samuel 8:10-21

This is exactly how leaders are today.  They don’t care about increased taxes and regulations, because they plan to profit from it.  Who cares about the little guy that will shoulder the burden; they care only for themselves.  When a leader comes along that threatens large constituencies, say the $2.5 trillion medical field, they cry for blood.  Not unlike what Jesus faced.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.  Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.  They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.  Anyone who hates me also hates my Father.  If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father.  This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’”  John 15:18-25

It is amazing to see ‘Christians’ going ballistic over such proposals as abolishing the Department of Education.  When Jesus is in power, he will not have pointless $73 Billion per year bureaucracies.  The United States became the greatest nation on earth without a public school system!  And no teachers union (let’s call it a monopoly).  Shouldn’t we applaud the breakup of monopolies by competition?  If someone wants to teach for less money than me, what right do I have to declare that illegal?!  Jesus was the lowest paid preacher ever.  $0!  He didn’t go to seminary.  Didn’t wear ornamental pastor’s robes.  Built no cathedrals.  Yet he will come to power.  By force.  In fact, he will kill millions.  But only out of the clearest equity and justice.  There will be no miscarriage of justice.  And no taxes.  Only the tithe, which will support the most benevolent government ever experienced by mankind.