1 Samuel
8:1-22
When Samuel
became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name
of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were
judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in
his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together
and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you
are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to
judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased
Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of
the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but
they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According
to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of
Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also
doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice;
only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall
reign over them.”
10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a
king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the
ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint
them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And
he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties,
and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements
of war and the equipment of 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 orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He
will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his
officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male
servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys,
and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of
your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry
out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
19 But the people refused to obey the voice of
Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that
we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out
before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard
all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice
and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to
his city.”
What is the warning about a King? He will take, take, take, and make you his slaves. There are many people that do not understand what it is to have a King anymore. But I love the line in the movie The Patriot, "Would you tell me please, Mr. Howard, why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away? An elected legislature can trample a man's rights as easily as a king can." You know what it is like to be ruled.
The people are more than happy to take on a King like the other nations. They do not want to listen to corrupt prophets, or sons of prophets. The elders understand that it is important to lead holy lives, and have religious leaders that help teach good morals. They also see these failures in the sons of Samuel. Do you see these same failures in your leaders? Do you see the corruption of moral character? Do you see what these people are teaching our children?
There are many different types of government around the world. But there is only one true King. God is our King. Jesus was crowned the King of the Jews, Israelites, the Church, ... or all creation. Jesus Christ is the Son of David who will sit on this throne forever. He will truly judge all people in purity. He has called your children, and parents, and property to his service. You are to help him proclaim salvation to the nations.
Christ has died for your sins. Christ has claimed the Kingdom for you. Christ will rule with you in eternity.
The people are more than happy to take on a King like the other nations. They do not want to listen to corrupt prophets, or sons of prophets. The elders understand that it is important to lead holy lives, and have religious leaders that help teach good morals. They also see these failures in the sons of Samuel. Do you see these same failures in your leaders? Do you see the corruption of moral character? Do you see what these people are teaching our children?
There are many different types of government around the world. But there is only one true King. God is our King. Jesus was crowned the King of the Jews, Israelites, the Church, ... or all creation. Jesus Christ is the Son of David who will sit on this throne forever. He will truly judge all people in purity. He has called your children, and parents, and property to his service. You are to help him proclaim salvation to the nations.
Christ has died for your sins. Christ has claimed the Kingdom for you. Christ will rule with you in eternity.
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