You WILL Cry Out

# 104 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 8:18 "And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day." 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, The people have been ruled by a heavenly King who is characterized by giving, and and now they want an earthly king who will be characterized by taking. God lovingly takes the time to explain to them what hardship their wish will bring upon them. Then He follows His warning with a statement that should really get their attention. “You WILL cry out.” The time will come when the oppression of their kings will be so bad, that they will cry out to God for relief, but He will not listen to their pleas. What is He saying? He is saying “if this is the bed you choose, then you will lie in it.” Chilling thought. Maybe one we should consider before we embark down a path of willful disobedience. How many times are we like the Israelites? Hellbent on ignoring God's Word and yielding to the desires of our flesh. Then when the consequences of yielding to our flesh bring pain into our lives we cry out to God for relief. When it is not forthcoming, we curse Him, blaming Him for our self-inflicted and forewarned of woes. What part of “the Lord will not hear you on that day” do we fail to understand? The good news is that the phrase “on that day” holds out hope for relief in the future. But make no mistake about it, our willful sin will bring consequence that a loving Father will allow us to go through. His relief will come if and when He sees fit and not before. No wonder the psalmist prayed, Ps 19:13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.