For Sunday, June 6, 2021
2nd Sunday After Pentecost
Year B, Proper 5

Was there ever a time in your life as a kid when you wanted something, you knew your parents were against it, but you were convinced your parents were wrong? Only later did you discover how right your parents actually were. That is what is happening in 1 Samuel 8.

The people of Israel realized they were in a predicament. Their leader Samuel had been holding things together as judge, prophet, and priest. But his sons were corrupt. The people realized they needed something different. But instead of coming to God in repentance to reform their country and take responsibility themselves, they wanted someone else to solve the problem. They didn’t want to be different than any of the other nations but rather to be just like them. They wanted the easy path.

God says to Samuel, “They are treating you exactly the way they have been treating me since I brought them out of Egypt. They forget me and they turn to other gods. Warn them about what they are asking for. They’ll end up giving away 50% of everything they have and earn, but if that’s what they want, give it to them.” And so it was.

Why were they so unable to make better choices? Pride, arrogance, ignorance, and passivity. Will things be any different for us today? Only if we humble ourselves and realize we too are prideful, arrogant, naive, and passive.

Let’s do some business today with God for ourselves, our families, our churches, our communities, our states and our countries. Let’s be careful what we wish for.