March 28: more about rejection...

I Samuel chapters 10 through 12

1 Samuel 8:1-9

Amplified Bible (AMP)

8 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

² Now the name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

³ His sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

⁴ All the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah

⁵ And said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.

⁶ But it displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to govern us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

⁷ And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the people in all they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be King over them.

⁸ According to all the works which they have done since I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they also do to you.

⁹ So listen now to their voice; only solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.

"His sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain, took bribes, and perverted justice."

Parents, stop blaming yourself when your children don't walk in the ways you have taught them. This is very common. All throughout the Bible, starting with Cain. Did Cain "fall into the wrong crowd"? No. He WAS the wrong crowd. 

They're not rejecting you, they're rejecting God.

When you are repeatedly rejected, you're in good company! God understands rejection very well.

"they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be King over them."

1 Samuel 10:17-19

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁷ And Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah

¹⁸ And said to the Israelites, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: It was I Who brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.

¹⁹ But you have this day rejected your God, Who Himself saves you from all your calamities and distresses; and you have said to Him, No! Set a king over us. So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.

Samuel was very hurt about Israel's desire for a king. He took it personally, as evidenced in his farewell address. He thought he must have failed them in some way. The change was extremely hard for him. I'm sure his desire was that his sons would carry on the family ministry, but they were wicked.

1 Samuel 12:1-4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 And Samuel said to all Israel, I have listened to you in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you.

² And now, behold, the king walks before you. And I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

³ Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and Saul His anointed. Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded or oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes? Tell me and I will restore it to you.

⁴ And they said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.

So what we are learning from all this is we must not take stuff personally. Rejection hurts! Change is hard! Even change God leads us to do. 

As a music minister, God impressed me a couple of years ago to hand some of my responsibilities over to capable leaders in the Music Ministry. I obeyed, but was it ever hard! I enjoyed feeling needed! The changes became easier and easier. And my leadership has actually become stronger and better as a result of my willingness to change and let go of some tasks others could do well (actually better!).

"Dear God, sometimes I go through intense rejection. It hurts. I enjoy feeling appreciated and needed. But then I remind myself, You have always faced rejection. Repeatedly! Since the beginning of time! All throughout the Old Testament, the very ones You created and loved chased after other gods. You accepted them back over and over, only to be rejected over and over. Then the ultimate rejection was the Cross. No one stood by Your side. Your close friends ran away in fear. You died for the ones who rejected You! Even now, You face rejection by entire nations. I'm embarrassed and shocked that my country, the very country founded on Your principles, is completely embracing everything that dishonors You. We sing God Bless America, but Your hands are tied. You have never blessed nations who reject You. I'm not a part of that crowd, Jesus. Please accept my worship and my vow to not follow that crowd. I'm not ashamed of You, Jesus."