I Won’t Be a Scold

With the November election, the majority of the people have chosen to reject the ideals of the United States of America and have chosen a man corrupt, hate-filled, vengeful, with the inability to feel sympathy for anyone other than himself.  So be it.

But what this election most reminds me of is the book of Samuel, Chapter 8.  I know most religious people are unfamiliar with the Bible, the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the adage to love thy neighbor as thyself.  That’s judging from both words and deeds.  However, the book of Samuel is enlightening, and some of you might want to refer to it.

In Chapter 8, the people of Israel ask Samuel to give them a king.  Samuel was loath to do it, advised strongly against it.  Being a prophet of Israel, he prayed to God and this is a paraphrase of God’s response to Samuel.  “It isn’t you they’re rejecting.  It’s me.  I brought them out of Egypt, but now they have turned to other gods.  So give them what they want, but warn them of what’s to come.”

So Samuel came before the people of Israel and warned them about the king they so desired:

He will take your sons—to serve him.  He will take your daughters—to serve him.

He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, your olive yards and give them to his servants.

He will take a tenth of what you produce for himself and his cadre.

He will take those who work for you and have them work for him.

He will take a tenth of your livestock and YOU SHALL BE HIS SERVANTS.

Then you shall cry out on that day because of your king, which you have chosen.  But the Lord will not hear you.

It’s always good to refer to the classics, isn’t it?  What’s that expression? There’s nothing new under the sun?  Ecclesiastes 1:9, while we’re in a Biblical mood.

Perhaps referring to the classics could be consider elitist, and, heavens above, forgive me for being steeped in our common heritage.  The one you so willingly discarded.  I will admit to voting for the uplifting message of unity, understanding, compassion, and mostly the Constitution of the United States of America.

But you will have your king.  Now with the courts and the Congress nothing can stop him.  And I along with so many others will have to suffer for your foolishness.