THE WORD

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THE WORD

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The Preaching Ministry of Ashley River Baptist Church

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God’s Preference for President Exodus 18:21, Judges 8:22-23; 21:25, 1 Samuel 8:1-10, 19-22; 2 Samuel 8:15, 23:1-4 I. God’s Preference is a Righteous Person 2 Samuel 23:1-4 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, And the man who was raised on high declares, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel, 2"The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 3"The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God, 4Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, When the tender grass springs out of the earth, Through sunshine after rain.' II. God’s Preference is a Reverent Person 2 Samuel 23:3 "The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God, FEAR: Reverence / Awe 2 Samuel 8:15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens III. God’s Preference is NOT a Replacement for God Judges 8:22-23 The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us-- you, your son and your grandson-- because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.“ 23But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you." Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 1 Samuel 8:1-10 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did

not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." 6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." 10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. We must be careful not to look to our leaders to provide that which only the Lordship of God can provide. IV. God Preference is not a Replacement for Personal Responsibility 1 Sam 8:19-22 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the LORD's hearing. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and appoint them a king." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city." The integrity of a nation depends not so much on who leads as much as it does the Godly people who make it up. MORALITY – DECENCY – HONESTY - UNSELFISHNESS – COMPASSION - RIGHTEOUSNESS CHALLENGE: To have a nation that honors and is blessed of God, we must surrender our lives to Jesus Christ and individually pledge to live lives of personal integrity, honesty, decency, compassion and righteousness and to elect those leaders to office who likewise hold sacred and indispensible these beliefs, qualities and virtues. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.