Continuing in the Book of I Samuel with my YouVersion “Essential 100 Challenge” readings.
Day 32, Part 1 – 1 Samuel 8 – Israel cries out for a king
Wow! I can’t believe that it has been over a month since I have written anything here. I hope this entry doesn’t seem too disjointed, as obviously, it’s been a while since I first read this passage in my journey thru the Essential 100, but I trust that God will speak to me and to you thru His Word anyway.
Little is said about Samuel’s life of ministry, other than a recounting of his spiritual leadership during Israel’s continued conflict with the Philistines (see Ch 7:3-12) and to say that Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. (v15) The story essentially jumps from his calling as a young boy to his old age when he was close to turning over responsibilities to his sons who he had made judges. But the problem was, his sons, like Eli’s sons in chapter 2 were corrupt. They “walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice,” (v3) which prompted the elders of Israel go to Samuel and ask for a king to judge them and to rule over them. Samuel was not pleased with this request so he took their words to Jehovah, who confirmed what had happened by saying, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them, and reminded Samuel that this is what they have done since the beginning. They have forsaken me, and served other gods, and now they’re forsaking you.” But I believed Samuel was surprised, as God also said, “Listen to them, but let them know what having a king will mean.” (v9)
So Samuel did just that. He let them know that a king would take their sons for his army and to farm his fields and run his factories. He would take their daughters to work as cooks and in his factories. He would take their fields and vineyards, a 10thof their crops and the best of their servants and livestock. But the worst thing was that when all this comes about and you cry out because your king does all these things, “I will not answer you.”
But the people didn’t listen to Samuel and said, “No, we will have a king over us, so that we can be like all the other nations, and so that our king can go out before us and fight our battles!” (v19-20) And God said to Samuel, “Listen to them and make them a king,” so he sent them home and began to wait on God to reveal who he would set before them as king. (v22)
I think about how much I am like these foolish Israelites. I decide what I want. I tell God what I want. I stubbornly pray for what I want, even though God’s Word and Spirit teach me and show me His more perfect will ~ a life of selfless service, and rejection of worldly values, worldly things, such as the lust for money and comfort and control. But unlike His promise to these people, when I get what I thought I wanted and find myself still hungry and restless and joyless, He does hear and He is so gracious to answer my cries, to forgive me and to draw me to Himself where there is real peace and comfort and joy. I praise God that I am His child and that He loves me forever ~ even when I am selfish and willful and demanding.