Have Hope - With God as Your King

Prayer ~ Lord God, You have provided us with what we need. Help us to be content with what we have and not to desire to be like others—whether that is politically, socially, or materially.

Meditate. Consider the Israelites wanting a king…like other nations.

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." Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance. "Do everything they say to you," the LORD replied, "for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them." 1 Samuel 8:4-9

 

When and where did the desire for a king to rule over Israel begin to take a foothold among that nation? Judges had been ruling—now they wanted a king like other nations had. Did Israel at the time of Samuel really want a king? The Lord could see that they didn’t want Him to rule over them. They were rejecting God. Is that so different than many countries and individual now?

 

Do we ever act like that? Our nation was founded by those wanting not to be ruled by a king—the other end of the spectrum. Our ruling system with the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative branches is a far cry from being governed by a king. Things are changing in our country…but we aren’t headed for monarchy.

 

COVID isolation is still keeping some people at home…and away from church, but some pastors on YouTube have indicated that they think there are more people coming to the Lord now than in recent years. By the verse (Revelation 1:6) we have looked at and on which we have meditated, all believers will all be kings and priests serving our God. Since we have ears…let us listen to Him. We can only hope—with God as our King.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

We can’t live on bread alone. I’ve been reading a great book, “Healing Foods” by Dale Pinnock. The book covers basically the body systems and healthy foods of all categories that are nutrients, and medicines to these areas of the body and to health in general. It is almost an overwhelming amount of information, and yet basically Pinnock encourages everyone to eat the rainbow of foods, stay hydrated, and avoid refined sugar and other processed foods.

 

What are you concerned about? Heart health? Reduce your saturated fat intake and focus on a plant-based diet, as well as increased high-fiber foods. Similarly, for skin issues staying hydrated is important, eating good fats—not saturated fats—and reduce sugar intake. Some of what he writes is just common sense. Even God, through the prophet Isaiah, focused on the importance of eating good food…food that give you strength.

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Isaiah 55:2

Remember Daniel and his friends ate wholesome fruits and vegetables when they were taken captive to Babylon. They flourished on a vegetarian diet. Using common sense to balance those vegetarian foods in the proper amounts can even provide the protein the body needs. Still, I will admit that I enjoy chewing on some meat or fish regularly. We just can’t live on bread alone…although someday we might just be glad to have some bread to eat. Choose wisely…and thank God for what He has provided.

 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories (Children’s storybook)

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com