Give us a King Pastor?

As I have pondered the structure of todays church with its programs, formulas and hierarchy I wonder why? Why are things set up in way that are directed and operated by man devoid of Holy Spirit led? Many church services are routine habitual practices that are never questioned, never augmented from the standard scheduled procedure. Its a customary methodology more akin to a performance than spontaneity of the Holy Spirit with life. The typical service is an organized procedure, a planned and predictable schedule. Each week we go through the drill. It becomes such normal practice as to become ordinary and habitual except for the occasional good teaching or song that moves us emotionally its church as normal. How did we get this way? Shouldn’t a group of believers who gather in the Holy Spirit operate in the unpredictable and unscripted rather than procedures? Where we are in awe of the presence of the Holy Spirit as He has the freedom to move among us unrestrained by procedure? 

The more I read the old testament the more I understand men are the same in every generation. In reading Samuel chapter 8 we read where God’s people cried out to Samuel to give them a king to reign over them so they could be like the other nations. Though they wanted to follow traditions of surrounding nations I believe there was also an underlying reason. That is they wanted someone else to pursue God for them and tell them what God expects of them. A reason which subconsciously removes them from any responsibility or accountability for their actions. They can live their lives as they see fit and trust kingdom issues to their leader king.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 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.” 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. 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. “Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day — in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods — so they are doing to you also. “Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.” 

1 Sam.8:4-9

They had forsaken God and served other gods, but what gods? I suggest the worship of man as one other god. Because they wanted to follow a man(king) and not God.

God amazingly appeased them. He gave them their hearts desire but was it God’s desire? God told Samuel to do so and WARN them to tell them the PROCEDURE of the man(king) that would rule over them. I looked up the hebrew word for procedure with interesting insight.

1. fDÚpVvIm mishpat [1048b]; from 8199; judgment:—arrangements(1), case(5), case*(1), cause(m)(7), charge(1), claim(1), court(m)(2), crimes(m)(1), custom(11), customs(2), decide(1), decision(2), decisions(1), deserving(1), destruction(1), due(1), injustice*(2), judge(1), judged(1), judgment(62), judgments(40), just(m)(4), justice(118), justly(m)(3), kind(1), manner(3), matters of justice(1), mode of life(1), order(1), ordinance(29), ordinances(79), plan(1), plans(1), practice(1), procedure(m)(4), properly(2), regulation(1), right(8), rightful place(1), rights(2), rule(m)(1), sentence(2), sentenced(m)(1), standard(m)(1), trial(m)(1), unjustly*(1), verdict(1), way prescribed(2), what is right(2), worthy(1).

The king chosen that would now rule over them will set procedures over them by holding arrangements or court, look at each case by case, judge crimes, determine customs and decide the deserving, dispense justice. Set ordinances, plans, practices, matters and modes of life. He will determine procedures, regulations, standards and will prescribe or regulate justly what is right. Executing sentence and verdict he deems deserving. Reminds me of some churches today where a pastor determines and acts as king.

Chapter 8 vs 15 continues with the people serving the organization of the king taking a tenth of their seed and given it to his officers and servants. To maintain the organizational system of the man(king). How most churches are ran today.

In vs 19 the people refused to listen to the voice of the prophet and instead determined a man(king) shall rule over them.

Then the truth comes out in vs 20, the real reason for choosing a king. It was so they could be like all the other nations, that the king would judge them (and not God) and the king would fight their battles. I believe something similar is happening today in our structured and programed churches where the people want a pastor to rule over them, they prefer his judging and ruling over them and for him to seek God for them and to fight their battles. Tell us what to do pastor (king).

When the king was sought 1 Sam 10: 19-24 Saul was chosen of God. But look at how he appeared to the people to those of his peers. See also 

1 Sam. 9:2 He was a choice and handsome man more so than all the sons of Israel and he was taller, he stood above his peers. Do we not today do the same? We follow after the handsome, the wiser, the good teacher, a seasoned man. All of which are external qualities unlike KIng David who was a man after Gods own heart. Do we wonder why so many churches and leaders fail? God never planned on His people being led by a man rather He purposed them to be led of the Holy Spirit as they seek Him and to hear from Him.

When Christ came He proclaimed a different way. One of following the Holy Spirit and not man kings. Yet many neither search scriptures for truth to know the structured procedures of the past are no longer valid today. That we are now in the kingdom of God and not mans. Still many follow a man rather than realizing they have been bought with a price and belong to Christ and Him alone, they continue to follow unquestionably their pastor king. Just saying.

~ Michael Smith

1 Samuel 12:12,13