GIVE US A KING
Questions-
What object lesson and prophecy does the Bible provide of the development of organized religion? How specifically does it apply to and was fulfilled by Jehovahs Witnesses?
The source scripture to answer these questions is from 1 Samuel chapter 8..
1 Samuel 8
Israel Asks for a King
1 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.
It is very ironic that Charles Taze Russel was a lawyer and Rutherford a Judge. They headed the JW group at a time they were independent Bible Studies and not controlled by absolute binding rules and regulations. Russel like Samuel was deserving of respect.
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
Russel's successor Rutherford representing the sons of Samuel after his death became both greedy and corrupt.
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 [1] us, such as all the other nations have."
It is pretty obvious that the Bible Students under Rutherford soon developed a desire to be under a central authority like other religions. This was like asking for a King.
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.
As a independent and free body of Bible Students the only authority figure needed was Jesus Christ as the head of the Church. In desiring or asking to become a organized religion they were rejecting God as their one and only King.
9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."The following warning shockingly fulfilled by modern day JWs together with all other organized religions conscripting these free christians into their personal service.10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle [2] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day." This more than accurately describes the kind of servitude members of JWs are confronted with. JWs are indeed crying out to Jehovah for relief from all the WTS abuses. But the Lord will not answer them. This explains the the sorry depressed state of the organization.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 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord . 22 The Lord answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."
Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Everyone go back to his town." Although God allowed the Jews to have a King like the nations does not mean that it is his desire and intent. This is definitely the case with modern day JWs . They are not supported by God with help unless they are committed to doing the conducting themselves righteously. Certainly modern witnesses have not committed themselves to righteousness. Zechariah
Edited by - zechariah on 22 August 2002 7:25:28
Edited by - zechariah on 22 August 2002 7:33:45