君主制的开始（记号：王冠）
以色列人在经历了三百多年断断续续的士师领导之后，很渴望有些变革。他们厌倦了一次又一次有不同的领袖起来，去解决一堆看似没完没了的危机。他们希望像其它国家那样有一个王（撒上 8:4-5）。
因此，尽管神知道百姓是在拒绝祂这位真正的王，祂还是让撒母耳去膏了一位王来统治以色列。撒母耳遵照神的命令，膏了扫罗作为以色列的第一个王。然而，除了少数人以外，以色列人后来都认识到，让一个王统治他们，带来的灾难比士师统治时的更重。
我们能从以色列的君主制中学到什么呢？或许我们会流泪，因为祷告蒙了应允？又或许我们明白了，没有一个有瑕疵的人能完美地统管我们？
除了这些令人伤心的功课，我们更能学到一个好消息：以色列立王背后的信息是：即使神的百姓失信，神仍是信实的。尽管他们做出了糟糕的选择，神仍供应了他们。从以色列这位有瑕疵的王的家族中，神最终造就了一位完美的王。祂就是万王之王，万主之主；祂是我们在圣诞节庆祝降生的那位王，耶稣基督。
耶稣，我们的王啊，愿祢以慈爱怜悯统管我们的心，从今日直到永远。奉祢的名祷告。阿们。
撒母耳记上 9:14-17
14 二人就上去。将进城的时候，撒母耳正迎着他们来，要上丘坛去。
15 扫罗未到的前一日，耶和华已经指示撒母耳说：
16 “明日这时候，我必使一个人从便雅悯地到你这里来，你要膏他做我民以色列的君。他必救我民脱离非利士人的手。因我民的哀声上达于我，我就眷顾他们。”
17 撒母耳看见扫罗的时候，耶和华对他说：“看哪，这人就是我对你所说的，他必治理我的民。”
Beginning Of The Monarchy (Symbol: Crown)
"The LORD said to [Samuel], 'This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.'" — 1 Samuel 9:17
After more than three hundred years of intermittent leadership by judges, the people of Israel longed for a change. They were tired of the cycle of having different leaders rise up and troubleshoot what seemed like an endless series of crises. They wanted a king such as the other nations had (1 Samuel 8:4-5).
So God, though he knew the people were rejecting him as their true King, told the prophet Samuel to appoint a king over Israel. Following God’s instructions, Samuel anointed Saul to be Israel’s first king. But, with a few exceptions, Israel learned that having a king to rule over them was as much of a disaster as the rule of the judges.
What can we learn from Israel’s monarchy? Perhaps that tears can also be shed over answered prayers? Perhaps that no flawed human being can ever rule over us perfectly?
More than these sad lessons, we can learn the good news: the backdrop to the story of Israel’s kings is that God remains faithful despite his people’s unfaithfulness. God provides for them, even out of their bad choices. And through the line of the flawed kings of Israel, God eventually brings forth the perfect king. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and on Christmas we celebrate the birth of that king, Jesus, the Christ.
Jesus, our King, rule our hearts with your love and compassion today and always. We pray in your name. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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