In the Old Testament, the people of Israel went through a continuous cycle. It went like this: Israel follows God, Israel is prosperous; Israel turns away from God, Israel suffers; Israel repents and turns back to God, Israel is once again prosperous.
By the time of Samuel, Israel had completed the process a plethora of times. Samuel was a Godly and strong leader in the land of Israel during a point in history where the nation was directed by "judges". In chapter 8 of I Samuel, Samuel had grown old, and the people of Israel demanded that he appoint a king for them.
Samuel was deeply disappointed and troubled. Before then, Israel had always been governed by God via the judges. Now they wanted a "king"; they wanted a king so that they could be "...like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." (I Samuel 8:20, NIV) Sound familiar?
...We need to repair our reputation with other countries...We need to be more "sophisticated" and "progressive" like Europe...We need Universal Health care like Canada...
They wanted a leader to "take care of them". Samuel, a wise man, knew the costs. He went to God in desperation telling Him what the people had requested. God reassured Samuel that the people had not rejected his leadership, that it was God Himself that they were rejecting. God instructed him to grant the request on the condition that he warn the people of the potential consequences. Samuel could appoint a king with the caveat that the people understood exactly what it was that they desired.
Samuel obeyed God and said what God has instructed him:
This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.
Samuel warned them. He warned them that the King would take over all aspects of their lives. The king would control the economy. He would take a "tenth" of their possessions. Samuel finally foreshadowed a dark day when the population would realize the danger that had accompanied their request; however, it would be too late. By then they will have traded their freedoms for security and the king's power will be so entrenched that there will be no return to the days of Samuel.
Since the days of "The New Deal" implemented by F.D.R., the United States has engaged an incremental, yet steady move away from ideas of freedom and democracy espouse by Thomas Jefferson, and instead toward the principles of Socialism promoted by Karl Marx.
Sadly, a majority of Americans cannot even articulate fundamental teachings of Thomas Jefferson or Karl Marx. They do not know the difference between capitalism and socialism. They do not know the difference between a Republic and Communist forms of government. Don't believe me? Watch "Jay Walking".
They do know that they want Health Care. They know that they want more social programs. More "Income-Earned Tax Credits" (this is supposed to be funny for those who do not know what this is: a tax refund for those who did not pay any taxes). More social security benefits. More assurance that the government will pay for their home loans. More government money (otherwise known as taxpayer money [for those who needed the above explained]) doled out for education. They want the government to pay for their children. They want the government to pay for their food. They want the government provide for them...to "rule over them".
Folks, John McCain, is not the answer. He is a consolation, the lesser of the "two evils". Considering the desires and outlooks of many Americans, he is the delay of the "inevitable". He is another George H. Bush. He is another George W. Bush. Another point in the time line toward socialism.
Barack Obama, however, is different. Unlike any other presidential candidate in history, he is a socialist from head to toe. He hasn't hid this until he started running for president, and even then, he has campaigned on policies that are unprecedented.
In the last debate, McCain finally "sacked-up" and called Obama out on his Universal Healthcare Plan, pointing out the fact that Obama's plan will fine parents that choose not to carry health insurance. For sure, he will deny this, I thought when I heard it. He didn't!!!! Oh, my!! He rambled on for a few minutes with the classic cliche used to stifle freedoms, that it was for the children...
Folks, I have said this before, but not directly in reference to Obama. Barack Obama believes that it is government's job to ensure the welfare of its citizens. This is in stark contrast to Thomas Jefferson's view that the government existed to protect "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"!! [emphasis added]
Folks, look around the world!!! This is how communist governments implement their policies. It is how Cuban leaders imposed the communist regime, that the removal of freedoms were necessary for the greater good of the state. It is what Communist China believes, that the people must sacrifice freedom for the greater good, so that government can provide food, housing, and education.
Is this what you want?!!! Are you ready for "a king"?!!! Do you know for what you ask?!!!
Does Cuba have an immigration problem? Does Europe have an immigration problem? Does China have an immigration problem? No, no, and no!!! The world wants to come here to live. Why, because of freedom!!!
To find out what happened to Israel and its kings, read I Samuel in the Old Testament and the ensuing chapters. I am not anywhere close to being in the same league as such a Godly man as Samuel, but consider yourselves "warned"...
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