1 Samuel 8:1-9
It may have been a sin on Samuel's part to make his sons judges. This probably shouldn't have happened and is evidenced by the fact the sons didn't follow in his steps. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. This begins to look very much like Eli and his sons. The people were afraid they would get stuck with the sons when Samuel died so they asked for a king. Samuel was upset at their rejection of him and his sons as well as their ungodly motives. Samuel did what any troubled God fearing man should do; he took the problem to the Lord. The Lord spoke to Samuel about this and explains that this was a rejection of Him. He then charges Samuel to warn the people of what a king will do.
This will be the basis of the contrast we'll see later. Saul becomes the king the people wanted; a king ruling a kingdom just like all the other nations. And just like all the other nations, God is not part of the government or considered in any way. The contrast to this king will be the king God appoints in King David. While David was still a man ruling fallen people in a fallen world, he is still a man after God's own heart. More importantly he points to the Son of David who will come after; the King of all Kings who will rule righteously in the Kingdom of God.
1 Samuel 8:10-22 It was always God's plan to give them a king. God's plan was David. Samuel tells them that they will pay dearly as the king will take all that they have for his benefit. He will come with great cost. God says in verse 18 that when they understand what he is talking about and cry out to him, that God won't hear them. They didn't listen (imagine that) and wanted a king to be like the other nations. They decided this by town hall meeting and not by prayer. See Deuteronomy 17:14-20 for prophecy of this. The Lord tells Samuel to give them a king.
©2015 Doug Ford
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