A problem that has plagued this world since its inception is men and women who speak out without first thinking. They often assume they know what their talking about but their words come up sadly short of any credibility. I think this is a phenomenon that especially starts ringing true in an increased manner every four years. With the presidential primaries nearing and all of the political activism occurring in our nation it amazes me what I hear and read, not just from politicians but also from voters, as to what they see as the future of America and the world. Sometimes things sound good at the surface, but after a closer examination they are found to be at best unproductive and at worst destructive. That is much the position Israel found themselves in around 1 Samuel 8. Let’s pause and think about a political demand they made that had devastating spiritual repercussions.
Title: A King Like the Nations
Text: 1 Samuel 8:1-22
Main Point: We face an immense amount of pressure to conform to the “norms” of society (Romans 12:1-3). That pressure is so great at times that we feel tempted to just throw in the towel and yield to the pressure because of the ease it would provide. However, righteousness demands sacrifice. Following God’s plan was never promised to be easy, in fact it was promised to be just the opposite. Consider a time in Israel’s history when they believed conformation would have been the easiest road to travel, but quickly realized the folly of their logic.
Discussion Points:
1. Listen to Their Request (vs. 1-5) – Israel was in the period of the judges, an age characterized by rebellion (Judges 21:25). The quality of leadership had drastically declined and the people wanted an effective leader whom they could trust. They issue a line of reasoning as to why they wanted a king, but their request came from only human reason (which is often flawed). God was their true leader, but His leadership did not satisfy them any longer. They were tired of being different from the nations around them. They saw the “progress” other nations were making and wanted the same. The problem was not political it was spiritual.
2. Look at the Reactions (vs. 6-8) – Samuel was both angry and disappointed at their request. He saw this as a referendum on his leadership and God’s leadership and saw nothing good coming from the request. The leadership of men is faulty at best and that imperfection was going to be a detriment to the people. God tried to remind Samuel that their request was not a judgment on himself but on God (vs. 7). They had forsaken Him and His law, implying their dissatisfaction with His leadership and authority. Now they would receive exactly what they asked for, but they would soon learn that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
3. Learn from the Results (vs. 10-18) – Samuel warned the people of all that would occur if their request was granted, but they would not be swayed (vs. 19). They wanted a king “like the nations” and they received a king “like the nations.” While David and Solomon succeeded somewhat, even their kingships were marred by sin. They got exactly what they asked for but the grand experiment was a failure. If they only would have trusted God!
What a sober reminder this narrative provides to remember that Christians are to seek something much higher than anything any government can offer. While we are to submit to the higher powers (Romans 13:1ff) our lives are to be first and foremost committed to God, King of kings and Lord of lords!