Six days ago I asked my FB friends, who was the first king of Israel. He was violent and corrupt. Abimelech, a son of Gideon, was was made king by the men of Shechem (an Israelite City of Refuge) and reigned over Israel for three years. He was called, The Bramble King, because he was useless and ruthless (Judges 9).
Men would rather have useless and ruthless men rule over them than have God rule over them. Though Abimelech was the first man named as king of Israel, he was not God's choice and he was not crowned by God's anointed prophet. This is why we refer to Saul as being the first king of Israel.
You can pretty much count on it, the people who refuse to come under the authority of God and His revealed word will opt instead for someone who really will rob them and oppress them. Of course, this is what God said men would do.
You can pretty much count on it, the people who refuse to come under the authority of God and His revealed word will opt instead for someone who really will rob them and oppress them. Of course, this is what God said men would do.
I attribute this kind of spiritual insanity to a concept I hold, which says, "Sin makes you stupid." People will resist and rebel against to the rule of God, Who loves us, and gladly submit to a monster. By the time they wake up from their stupor, it is too late, they have been made slaves.
