May 17, 2024 | Be God's Light
Israel Asks for a King
Scripture: 1 Samuel 8 (NIV)
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. 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 follow 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 follow 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 claim as his rights.”
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 claim as his rights: 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 male and female servants and the best of your cattle 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, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
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 Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”
Devotional
The people of Israel gave Samuel several reasons they wanted a king:
- Samuel was old and couldn’t lead them as judge & prophet much longer.
- Samuel’s sons were corrupt and couldn’t be counted on.
- A king could lead them into battle.
- All the other nations had a king.
Up to this point, the nation of Israel had been a theocracy. Though the Lord spoke through people like Abraham, Moses, Joshua and Samuel, God was their true ruler. That is why the Lord told Samuel, “…it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king” (v. 7). Out with the theocracy; in with the monarchy.
In response to their request, Samuel warned the people about what having a king would mean for them:
- The king would create a national army with a draft.
- People would be conscripted as servants and slaves for the king.
- The king would take their land and property for his personal use.
- Taxes.
Their response? “We want a king over us.” And the rest is history. Under the first three kings (Saul, David, and Solomon) they were a united nation. Then civil war split the nation into the northern kingdom of Israel with nineteen kings and the southern kingdom of Judah with nineteen kings and one queen. They were in continual conflict with each other. Instead of being united under the authority of a king, having monarchs did just the opposite.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel lasted about 250 years until they were conquered by Assyria. Israel was forever assimilated into the Assyrian people. Those living in Canaan became known as the Samaritans, a mixed breed of people with syncretistic religious practices.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah remained an additional 135 years until they were conquered by and exiled to Babylon. In future years, a remnant was allowed to return to Judah and rebuild Jerusalem.
The rest of this Old Testament study is dedicated to exploring the ramifications of this request, “We want a king over us.” Be careful what you wish for!
Poem
Be Careful!
Be careful what you ask for
With envious, glutt’nous eyes
Instead of trusting Yahweh
To be your constant guide
Don’t give your trust to char’ots
Or armies swelling pride
The only one to rule you
Is Jesus at your side
