Bible Verse Synopsis 5-23-25
1st Samuel 8
As Samuel grew older, he appointed his sons as Judges over the people. "And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre (money), and took bribes, and perverted judgment." - Verse 3. The Elders noticed this corruption and approached Samuel saying "...Behold, you are old and your sons walk not in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." - Verse 5. We see that even Samuel was exposed to his own failures. There is no mention of Samuel asking God how to proceed with his sons. Maybe he did, maybe not, but we are not told. I feel like a conversation with God would have been recorded here if it had happened. That explains an avenue as to the corruption of Samuel's sons. If it was not God's will for these men to walk behind Samuel in his duty to God, God would not protect them from the evil spirit and his desires. This in turn leads the Elders to seek not what God wants and what man wants. The leadership had fallen apart and it seems to me that everyone, even Samuel is guilty of seeking the desires and wants of man over the instruction of God. We do this everyday. How can we incorporate God into our lives more? Where does He demand to be?
Samuel upon hearing this prayed to God. In Verse 7 God explains to Samuel what is truly going on. "... for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them." God tells Samuel that the Elders (and his sons) have rejected God and not Samuel the man. It was not an afront unto the man but unto God. Do you reject God in search of an earthly king that you can see and touch as Israel does here?
God gives Samuel a warning to address these Elders and this warning is meant to deter them, but God recognizes that it will not. They would have no one to blame but themselves when things went against them, as God knew it would. Verse 10 - " And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people who asked of him a king." There is a theme of the new king they demanded. "He will take" is seen six times. The things this king takes will cause Israel much pain and suffering. War and corruption will remain supreme and God will cede control over His people to the devil because His people rejected Him. Where have you chosen to allow the devil to affect you and in doing so, rejected God? Verse 18 says "And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day." When we reject God, he does not want to hear us crying out for Him in our weakness. We should still continue to cry out to Him. Yet, our cry should begin and end with our repentance of these sins. Does He know what things we repent of?
Verse 19 says "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us." They ignore the Lord's warning and chose to move forward with the desires of man over the desires of God and therefore dooming their fate. By taking matters into their own hands the Elders made their problems worse not better. We should reach out to God and seek His guidance always. Samuel communicates actively with God here about this problem. God told Samuel in Verse 22 "...Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king." God will not force us into His desired outcome. He allows us to choose how to proceed with our lives. He also knows how we will choose. Free will is given to all men, He just wants us to choose Him. Are you ready to choose God?