Samuel’s Warning Against Kings. So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself to his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. 1Sa 8:10-11
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY
INTRODUCTION
The authorship of these books cannot be determined, but there is abundant evidence that they embody the report of eye-witnesses. Some of the more prominent characters in the scenes described are name as writers in 1Ch_29:29.
The First Book of Samuel records the rise of a new political and spiritual order represented by the kings and the prophets. The establishment of the monarchy, with Saul as the first king, is an epochal event in the development of Israel’s national life.
Of no less importance is the appearance of the “schools of the prophets” under the leadership of Samuel. In these institutions we see the beginning of the movement which made Israel spiritually supreme among the nations.
I. FROM THE BIRTH OF SAMUEL TO THE ANOINTING OF SAUL, I Samuel 1-8
8. The Demand for a King, 1Sa_8:1-22
15. How were they warned by Samuel?
Samuel’s Warning Against Kings
So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself to his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.
He will appoint them for himself to be commanders over thousands and over fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and equipment for his chariots.
He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.
He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.
He will take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves shall be his servants.
Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you on that day [because you have rejected Him as King].”
The Lord Grants Israel’s Request
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,
so that we too may be like all the nations [around us], that our king may judge [and govern] us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
Samuel had heard all the words of the people and repeated them to the LORD.
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their request and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each man to his own city.”
REJECTING THE PROPHET’S WARNING
The people had entreated Samuel to cry unto God in their behalf; and now we see him going to and fro between the people and God, as a true mediator and intercessor. “He told all the words of the Lord unto the people,” 1Sa_8:10; and, “He rehearsed all the words of the people in the ears of the Lord,” 1Sa_8:21. See also 1Sa_8:22. Samuel is fitly described in the Psalter as one who called upon God’s name, Psa_99:6. How much we may influence the life of a nation or of an individual if we will only pray with persistent and believing earnestness! We cannot dispense with our statesmen, but our prophets-the Samuels and the Elijahs-are the most efficient chariots and horsemen of protection, 2Ki_2:12.
The people could not answer Samuel’s grave and graphic words. They contented themselves with repeating their request, and soon they learned the bitterness of imposing their own will upon God. They would have a king, and God gave them their hearts’ desire, but see Psa_106:15. When Samuel had received God’s reply, he set himself, with all his power, to further the matter, at all cost to himself. We are reminded of that noble reply of the Baptist in Joh_3:31. God’s will ever first and supreme!
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