Whatever happened to objective truth?

 

1 Samuel 12; Psalms 26–27; Jeremiah 49; Romans 10

During the time of Samuel who served God as prophet, priest and judge, the people had not changed. They continually declared they would follow the Lord, but they didn’t. When their sin brought consequences, they cried out to God and He sent leaders like Samuel who turned things around for a little while. Yet their rebellious ways continued and finally they decided that they didn’t need God; rather, they needed a king. Samuel reluctantly gave them Saul but he also gave this strong warning:

"If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king." (1 Samuel 12:14–15)

It is a pattern; both God’s people and their leader are blessed for obedience and in trouble when they rebel against God. Is this principle globally true? For all people? For all leaders? The possible answers from a human perspective are: Yes, No and Partially. I’m more interested in God’s perspective.

There is plenty of biblical evidence that this principle applies to everyone. God is God — of all creation. If not, then He is not God of anything. He is sovereign; He rules over everything. If not, then He is not sovereign, like our human leaders are not sovereign. They may have a kingdom, but it is limited. Logically, God cannot be a partial God; His characteristics do not allow Him to be dissected in any way. (Jeremiah 46-51 exemplify His sovereignty over the nations!) He does not change.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

Even though God sent Jesus as our Savior from sin, He still hates sin because it separates us from Him. Even though in this world we have troubles, Jesus is the ultimate proof that God loves us.

Is this limited to only those who believe it? If a house is on fire, is the danger only to those who see the flames or smell the smoke? If a dark path leads to falling off a cliff, will those who ignore or fail to see the warning signs be exempt? Hardly!

For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:11–13, italics mine)

The problem today is the same as the problem of those in the book of Judges and in the historical count of humanity in the Bible: “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Objective truth has been kicked out of the door and replace by relativity.

God’s objective (and unpopular) answer is the same for us, for me, as it was for the Israelites when they realized that asking for a king was evil. No matter the sin, God gave Samuel these words:

“Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (1 Samuel 12:20–25)

APPLY: First, I must serve the LORD with all my heart. Second, I cannot force others to do the same, but like Samuel did, I can pray and instruct when given the opportunity. Third, I can see that the way God’s people responds to God will affect their king. Even if the king is godly and the people rebel, the entire realm is in trouble.

We tend to think a godly leader will bring God’s blessing, but not so. In these days of political unrest and dissatisfaction with whoever is leading the country we live in, my hope is in the unchangeable mercy of God, personal obedience and constant prayer for those who have abandoned serving God and have opted for doing what is right in their own eyes.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14)