“We Want A King”

 “And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ (1 Samuel 8:5)

Lets back up the narrative a bit. Chapter 8 of 1 Samuel tells us about Samuel’s two sons, Joel and Abiah. Samuel made Joel and Abiah judges in Israel. Samuel doesn’t make decisions or judgments without talking to God first. Joel and Abiah are more concerned about money than God. The elders of Israel recognized their sin.

Now the Elders of Israel want a king, just like all the other cool nations had. It was the way of the world then, as it is now. People would rather shift their responsibility to others, than take responsibility themselves. An old military saying that is true no matter who you are, “You can delegate authority, but you can’t delegate responsibility.”

Samuel was not happy about what the elders said, but he took the question to God. God answered.

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7)

God’s Answer to Israel

“9Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

10And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” (1 Samuel 8:9-18)

Israel Still Wants a King

The Elders of Israel ignore God and still wants a King. God tells Samuel, if they want a king give them one. God gives us enough rope to learn lessons the hard way. Just like we all have done.

Stay Tuned…