1 Kings 1:1a - God's patience

Scripture:

1 Kings 1:1a
1 Now King David was old, advanced in age;
NASU


Thoughts:

This book chronicles the first kings of the Israelites starting from the end of David's reign (therefore, excluding King Saul).  This book is largely negative, showing again and again how Israel is led into sin and oppression by their kings.  This comes as a consequence of their disobedience:

1 Samuel 8:4-7
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
NASU

God's plan was that He would be their King, leading them through the judges, like Samuel.  However, in fulfillment of Moses' prophecy hundreds of years before, they wanted a king like the nations around them:

Deuteronomy 17:14-15
14 "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ' I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses,
NASU

It's simply amazing to see that God knew of their disobedience long before, and yet graciously made a concession for it (Deuteronomy 17:15).  Humanly speaking, this would anger us to see this happening, but God takes it in stride.  He does not bless the decision, in fact He warns them of what will happen and allows them to reap the consequences:

1 Samuel 8:10-20
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked of him a king. 11 He said, " This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. 12 " He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 "He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 " He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 "He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16 "He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work. 17 "He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 "Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day."

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us, 20  that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
NASU

In spite of their open disobedience, He still patiently works with them throughout this book.  God is truly amazing!


Prayer:

Lord, how often I need to receive patience from You!  Like Israel, I too can foolishly choose to follow after the things I see in the fallen world around me, rather than Your way.

Thank You that You know all the missteps I will ever make, and will work with me there.  I don't want to make any nor does it please You for me to do so, but when I do, I know You will not abandon me.  Though You never honor sin, thank You that You don't throw me out when I fail.  Thank You that Jesus' sacrifice has paid the penalty for each and every mistake I will ever make.  May I always walk with You.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.