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… 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. (1 Sam 8:7)[1]
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Tim 2:1-2)
On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, America made her will known and elected a new President. Irrespective of the vote you cast, Barack Hussein Obama will be our next President. As Mr. Obama offered his victory speech, thousands of tear-stained faces adoringly hung on every uttered word although nothing of substance was really said. The entire oration oozed of empty rhetoric and idealistic platitudes. The hypnotic effect that Obama held over the crowd was remarkable – foreshadowing, I think, what is to come.
If one can believe the prophecies of the media heralds, President Obama will govern from the “middle” meaning that, while he will not be conservative, he will not be as liberal as his past record might otherwise indicate. Such misplaced optimism is symptomatic of a people deceived into believing that government has the responsibility of making their lives better. Any promise of free services – health care, housing, tax “credits,” etc. readily rallies the masses expecting entitlements. Never is there consideration given to the fact that there is a hidden cost to all of these services and someone will have to pay. Oh yes, the big rich companies will pay for it all. Never is there consideration given to slippery slope toward socialism which our country has taken. Never is there any consideration given to Obama’s prior indoctrination in Socialist and Marxist ideologies.[2] Never is there any consideration given to his antagonism toward the founding document of our nation, the Constitution,[3] which he has sworn and will have to swear to uphold and defend. No, none of this matters as long as he gives us the pie in the sky by and by. One Dallas teenager was quoted as saying, “I feel like he really cares about us, and about the future.”[4]
There would be those that come to Mr. Obama’s defense pointing out that he has disavowed his radical associations, but to them the Bible would say, “for as he thinks within himself, so is he.” (Prov. 23: 7) Rhetorically, God’s Word challenges: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?” (Jer 13:23). Obviously the answer is no. President-Elect Obama will say anything for political expediency, and given his amazing talent for oratory, the masses are swallowing it hook, line and sinker. However, what he says and what he thinks are not necessarily the same. Consider the warning given in the book of Proverbs:
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings,
like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!"
But his heart is not with you.
For about the first 300 years of their existence as a nation, Israel was without a king. They were governed (as they gave allowance) by God through judges. Due to their frequent reprobation, God punished them by sending marauding nations to castigate them. At last they cried out for a king. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, ‘… Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.’” (1 Sam 8:4-5) Samuel was much distressed over the request, but “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.’” (1 Sam 8:7) Later on, Israel’s first king was chosen. When Samuel brought Saul before the people the Bible says, “[H]e was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.’ So all the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’” (1 Sam 10:23-24) I cannot be sure, but I feel like Samuel was egging them on in pointing out his physical appearance. As it turned out, Saul was a sorry king. His problem was that he trusted in his own abilities rather than in God. Once God had his fill of Saul, He selected another king for the nation.[6] Samuel was directed by God to go to the house of Jesse in the little town of Bethlehem. Jesse had twelve sons and they were paraded before Samuel so that one could be selected. When Eliab, the oldest was brought in, Samuel thought that surely this one had to be the one. He was tall, strong and handsome, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” (1 Sam 16:7)1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings,
like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!"
But his heart is not with you.
“The LORD looks at the heart.” We see the outward appearance. We hearken to well rehearsed and well delivered speeches that ebb and flow in perfect rhythm to the lust of our flesh. We want to have our ears tickled with empty promises of better tomorrows, but God looks at the heart. Our next President is a handsome man. He is young. He is tall, dark and handsome. He has a captivating smile. His speech is smooth as butter and he radiates before the television cameras. But God looks at the heart. Obama’s ability to captivate and mesmerize the masses foreshadows a world leader that will rise and captivate the whole world. The prophecy of Daniel tells of one who is to come: “a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. … In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest parts of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, (Dan 11:21, 24) The Revelation of Jesus Christ as recorded by John the beloved apostle describes him in these terms: “… And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?’ There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.” (Rev 13:3-5) I’m not ready to proclaim that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, but his mass appeal, considering the lack of substance in his message, at least can give one an idea of what the Antichrist will be able to do.
God looks at the heart, and “The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Prov 21:1) God has given America what she has asked for. God has given America what she deserves for her ingratitude for all of His blessings. She has spurned His love and rejected His laws, and God has removed His hand from our nation. Yet a remnant of His people still remain, and to them He commands “that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1 Tim 2:1-3) His promises are not nullified by any earthly authority and He promises that, “[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14)
Barack Hussein Obama was not my choice for President of the United States. I have several serious and justifiable doubts about his qualifications for the office, but the people have spoken. Furthermore, God has spoken, and God has set up Mr. Obama to lead our nation. Our part is to lift up him, his staff, the Congress and Senate and our justices in daily prayer. Pray for God’s mercy on our land.
My country ‘tis of thee, Sweet land of Liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside let freedom ring.
My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love:
I live thy rocks and rill, thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills, like that above.
Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song.
Let mortal tongues awake, let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright with freedoms’ holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.[7]
Notes:
[1] Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE UPDATE. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation.
[2] Note his associations. Bill Ayers, Nadhama Auchi, Louis Farrakhan, Tony Rezko, Moussa Marzook (author of the Hamas manifesto), James T. Meeks, the Black Panthers, etc.
[3] Barack Obama, 2001 interview with WBEZ 91.5 FM in Chicago.
[4] “Barack Obama: President-Elect of the United States” The Dallas Morning News, Sunday, November 09, 2008, Special Commemorative Section, Section M, p.4M.
[5] The Bible text designated (NASB) is from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, (The Lockman Foundation, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[6] 1 Samuel 16
[7] Smith, Samuel F. (1808-1895), “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” The Baptist Hymnal, (Nashville, Convention Press, 1991), Hymn 634.
