The Call For A King - 1 Samuel 8:1-9

1 Samuel’s Transition From Judges to Kings

Good morning, we're going to go ahead and get started if you would. Take a seat. We are in 1st Samuel once again, and we are in chapter 8. Beginning in chapter 8 and I want to do a kind of an overview of what has transpired in This book so far just a condensed overview.

So we see how God has worked in individuals As he's bringing forth something different that has not yet been a part of Israel's leadership. So before we start let's open in prayer if you would. Heavenly Father, we just thank you today for the privilege of gathering together collectively.

We thank you for the privilege of your word and Lord. We thank you for the sacrifice of your son that has provided the way of salvation By grace through faith and we just praise you and ask that you'd be glorified as Your word is taught today throughout all the classes and as your word is preached.

We just pray that we would receive your word and that we would be able to by your Holy Spirit Participate and Obey your word. We just give you thanks now and pray that you'd guide us Illuminate this text we ask this in Jesus precious name.

Amen. One of the great elements of the book of 1st Samuel is the gradual but orderly progression from the period of Israel's leadership in The first seven chapters this gives us Samuel's birth Also the work of God in Samuel's life both spiritually and physically.

Now we've seen Samuel serving Under the high priest Eli in Shiloh at the tabernacle which is where they offered prayers and sacrifices and Oversight of the Ark of the Covenant when it was at Shiloh and We also know that under Eli's Period that his sons Were worthless men.

They did not know God and they will talk a little bit more about that as we go through this. Samuel was given a prophetic message from God in which he was going to carry out just punishment on Hophni and Phinehas that's Eli's wicked and derelict sons.

We see God's work in this and also in his final role as judge over Israel. The Ark of the Covenant functions in the first three chapters as a focal point. The Ark of the Covenant as you remember is a representation of Jehovah God Being a part of Israel.

He was their God they were his people and The representation of that is in the Ark of the Covenant. Miraculous return of the Ark remember there was a war they took the Ark in the battle the Philistine captured it and Then God brought plagues upon him it went from city to city five different cities.

They finally returned it and then It was sent to be cared for at Kiriath Uriah and where they kept it and cared for it and Treated it with a godly Reverence that it should have had. And we're able to see the first seven chapters Samuel the importance of repentance and turning to God.

Now as we many of you go through the Pinnituk or have been going through the Bible. You'll see throughout the Pinnituk and the first several books before we get to Samuel the essence of the rebellion of the Israelites.

They would rebel God would bring a judgment upon them. They would repent He would bless them then they turn around and Do the same thing all over again. They turn from God and here in Samuel. They're actually following idols.

They've completely Rejected Jehovah God as their God.

The.

Whole rest of the book of Samuel is now focused on the establishment of the period of Kings. Though there are some interesting particulars about Samuel throughout for Samuel. Until we get to the latter chapters of first Samuel.

But the focus now is on the transition from Israel being led by a judge To now being led by a king. So let's go to verse 1 in chapter 8 and we're going to read through verse 12 and It came about when Samuel was old that he had appointed his son's judges over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was a bija. They were judging in Beersheba. His sons, however did not walk in the ways. But took turned aside after dishonest gained Took bribes and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and they told him behold You have grown old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.

But this thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said give us a king to judge us and Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you.

For they have not rejected you but they have rejected me from being their king over them like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day and in that day They have forsaken me and served other gods.

So they are doing to you also. Now listen. Now then listen to their voice. However, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them. Verse 10. So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked him for a king.

He said this will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and Among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties and some to do as plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for the chariots.

He will also take your daughters for perfumers and 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 seed of all your vineyards and will give to his officials and to his servants.

We'll stop there. But you we're starting to get the picture here, so let's take a deeper look at this what is happening here. Verse 1 we find Samuel has reached the point in life where he's no longer actively a ruling as a judge over Israel.

Some scholars say that Samuel was approximately 60 years old at this point. The Talmud, however States that Samuel was only 52 years old when Samuel was appointed his sons as judge over Israel. Other ancient documents Within the Hebrew records indicate that Samuel could have been approximately 72 years old at this point.

There is no common agreement amongst the Hebrew scholars of his precise age. That Samuel was at this point in life. Some Hebrew historians agreed that it's quite possible that Samuel may have been in his 70s and they reasoned this because he was a Nazarite and lived a very temperate Lifestyle so he had a very healthy diet, and he could have been very healthy and at this point been perhaps around 70 years old.

Remember in chapter 4 it reveals that Eli Was 98 years old. So for a priest Who lives a temperate life? Their age could have been much higher. Whatever the age of Samuel At this point He was old kind of like me now the name Joel his son Means Jehovah God.

The name of Abijah Means my father is the Lord. And Bersheba was not near any of the places which Samuel trout travel throughout his annual circuit. Bersheba was located down in this extreme south southern border.

Thought you were asking a question, sorry. So they wanted Some presence there they wanted. He wanted his sons there for the purpose that the Philistines would know.

That the.

Israelites had a judge in their border land. That was the purpose Verse 3. His sons however did not walk in his ways But turned aside to dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice. What a sad commentary.

Here's a man Samuel who lived a godly life and was dedicated to the Lord at birth. He has at this point gotten old his sons were men and now They turned aside after dishonest gain for money they were greedy.

Though this seems to be a little bit of a similar pattern the upbringing of Eli's sons Who were given charge over the sacrificial offerings at the tabernacle on Shiloh? But we read in chapter 2 of 1st Samuel verses 12 through 17 the sins of Eli's sons included that of lascivious deeds as Well as dereliction of their priestly duties at the tabernacle in which they stole choice meat Which was supposed to be offered as burn offerings as well as sexual sins They committed against the women who were taking care and serving in the doorway of the tent of meeting.

When Eli was made aware of this, what did he do? You remember that? What was Eli's response? Surely you remember. What did he do when he heard that his sons? Hophni and Phinehas Had done these grievous.

Sins.

Well, if you don't recall He went to them and he rebuked them. He said how could you do this? You may be forgiven as a sin against man, but they sinned against God. But what should he have done according to Levitical law?

He should have had them stoned. They blasphemed God. He should have had his sons Stoned. They should have gathered the men of Israel Reveal their sin and then stoned them to death. As we think about this he was derelict in that and of course we know that the Lord spoke to Samuel he prophesied what he was going to do to Eli's sons.

He also Said that the priesthood would never remain in Eli's heritage. It was taken from him because of this Horrible sin that his sons had committed in which he did not properly punish them. In the Septuagint of That passage in 3 chapter 3 says his sons Blaspheme God.

Well blasphemy was an offense worthy of death. In Leviticus 2416 we read this. Moreover the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord will surely be put to death. All the congregation so certainly stoned him the alien as well as the native.

When he blasphemes the name Shall be put to death. So that should have been what Eli carried out. Samuel's own administration of justice had been upright and he was not even aware how corrupt his sons were.

So when given the responsibility as judges we should remember the words of Ezekiel 18 1 through 3 it says this. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying what do you mean by using this proverb? Concerning the land of Israel the fathers eat the grapes.

But the children's teeth are set on edge. As I live declares the Lord you shall surely not go. Surely not use this proverb in Israel any longer. Behold all the sons are mine the soul of the father as well as The soul of the son is mine the soul who sins will die.

So in other words those who commit the sin are the ones responsible for their sin. They can't they were blaming their fathers and their forefathers for their own sin. Sounds pretty familiar. They cast blame on someone else that started all the way back in the garden did it not.

Oh It was this woman. You gave me Lord. Well, it was a serpent that Deceived me. So as we think of this we recognize Samuel's reputation throughout the land. Was one of a godly man and yet he wasn't even aware of What his sons were doing?

Until it was brought to his attention all the Reformed scholars state that Samuel had carried out his roles as priest prophet and judge with reverence to God and That he served with the utmost Integrity throughout all his life, and he had displayed faithfulness to God as well as to Israel.

However.

Because of Samuel's son's perversion of justice this would have been the impetus for the elders of Israel to request Samuel to appoint a King as ruler over Israel. So let's look at verse 5 as we continue and They said to him.

Well, let's back up to four. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and they said to him. Behold, you have grown old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us.

To judge us like all the nations. Verse 6. But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when he heard them what they said. So as we see the elders coming to him. These complaints must have came from the Israelites.

The elders heard about it. And what do they do? They go and approach Samuel now and this is a. Actually the last time we heard about elders was in Deuteronomy chapter 31. We haven't heard the elders as a group Since then.

And what was that. That was in 31. 28 of Deuteronomy it says this. Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and the officers that I might speak with these in Their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.

But now they gather together as a ruling council or official Delegation to address the problem with Samuel. The term elders was sometimes referred to in the Old Testament as The men who made up the fathers or heads of the family, but there was another more formal role For elders the formal role for the elders in the Old Testament.

They were responsible for overseeing the Israelites. Making sure that they carried out the ceremonial functions of the law as well as all of the Levitical law that was their responsibility throughout Israel.

The elders came to Samuel after the Israelites had complained about the dishonest behavior of Samuel's sons. Who were corrupt and took bribes? These two sons Joel and Abijah did not walk in Samuel's ways.

What a disappointment that must have been so much pain for Samuel to hear this first of all and then to say Now we're going to bring a king just like all the other nations. Would have been like a knife in his heart.

Yes, right. No, did you all hear the statement that? Brian stated this portion of history was a dark period of the Israelites. They were rebellious and They were sinning against the God who loved them protected them Provided for them and they turned against him and turned to idols.

He also equated that. Where is our country today? What have we done in America we turn from God.

We.

Basically people turn from God and worship idols. They kill children and Think nothing of it, but they even profit off of these unborn children or even coming to full birth unheard of in our history and.

Yet that is the place that we are and it results in. The spiritual side of what they're doing. They hate God. They also hate Christians and they don't even want Jesus Christ's name mentioned anywhere.

They don't want God's Word in their schools. They don't want anything to do with Christians. That's the state of this country. Good point. Yes, what what Mike said. Just to repeat the statement by Mike he said that this time in our country.

The.

Everything has been taken away from the true essence of Christianity and now there's no Moral essence in our our country. It isn't that we're trying should moralize our country. We were called to evangelize the lost.

And we don't have to look for a moral Leader we have to look at presenting the gospel to the world. We're gonna get more into this in just a later on in this passage. Good point. The Israelites were in such a state of unrepentant sin That rather than seeking God's face and humility and prayer They called upon the elders and demanded a king.

Just like all the pagan nations. Because of what Joel and Abijah had done. Now the elders did not try to call the people to repentance. So what's that show? About the elders at this point in Israel. They were just as sinful that does not record that they stopped and sought God's face in Prayer for direction.

No.

They listened to the people went directly to Samuel and said this is what they demand. So now we can understand a little by why this distressed Samuel verse 6. But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said give us a king and Samuel prayed to the Lord.

Samuel was one of the greatest of the Bible in the Old Testament. He judged Israel all his days in 1st Samuel 7 15.

He.

Played historically a pivoted pivotal role in the nation's transition from tribal Confederation to a monarchy the years after his great victory over the Philistines. The Israelites had a period of peace.

Prosperity. But there was one problem. Samuel was a mortal man. And since now he's older the people of Israel were demanding a king. This was truly displeasing to Samuel. The response of Samuel gives Evidence of his human emotion as well as his love and trust for God.

He didn't feel sorry for himself. He wasn't gonna turn to the wall and say what have they done. He sought God in prayer. That was his immediate response. Yes, the pain was there. It said this displeased him.

It was probably like a knife in him, but he didn't try to make excuses for what had happened. He didn't try to defend himself. He went to God in prayer. He wanted God's direction and That's what he's going to get.

We find in chapter 25 on the account of Samuel's death and the response of the people of Israel at this point upon hearing that Samuel had died.

It says this.

Then Samuel died and all Israel gathered together and mourned for him and Buried him at his house in Ramah and David arose and went down to the wilderness and Paran. The earnest response of the people at that point Shows how much love that they had for Samuel.

Samuel loved God first of all, but he also loved Israel. He served God first and Israel as well. He wanted the Israelites to turn to God. He wanted them to repent and He wanted them to be followers of God's Word.

But at this point They were completely rebellious as we consider the corrupt behavior of Samuel's sons. It did not reflect upon Samuel's lack of faithfulness to his God these two sons whom Haniel Samuel had Entrusted the responsibility of judging over the southern border.

Were.

Greedy and They turned to corruption. There's no evidence of Samuel being complicit or in any way being negligent of Guiding his sons. There's no excuse for the lack of oversight of not discerning what was going on.

He should have found that out. But nevertheless One commentator which was quickly Rejected by all the reform Commentators said that well, he might have been complicit. How could you even say that that was?

Rejected totally by all the other reformed scholars there may have been a powerful emotional response to the people of Israel's demands and Requests for a king because he had served them all his days.

He loved them and he wanted nothing but for them to live godly lives and to Honor God with their lives. Samuel wasn't filled with jealousy or self-pity, but his immediate response was turning to God To find out what God wanted him to do.

We may look at this point in history in which God knows that his people Did not reject Samuel but rather They rejected the God of Israel. How often do God's people carry on their own lives with their own plans and pursuits?

Daily and carrying out their daily activities and Not seek God. God does not rebuke Samuel. He points out to the people of Israel They did not reject you. But they rejected me. He did that in kindness To Samuel so that Samuel would know that it wasn't your failure here.

It was these people are Rejecting me. It's actually a very powerful display of God's mercy as well as his grace Towards his chosen people. He takes the people who have sinned throughout their lives disobeyed God and everything they do.

And when we think of our salvation We've done the same thing. We rejected God. We were God haters and God in this mercy. Grant us the grace and the ability to turn to him in salvation. Here he's showing great kindness towards Samuel.

The Lord said to Samuel listen to the voice of the people in regard to all they say To you for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. God answered the prayer of Samuel.

The requests of the people must be granted. Even if it's a wrong Purpose that they had for doing so in itself. It was wrong for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

The people of Israel did not want a theocratic King. God had provided everything it wasn't That long ago. They were held captive in Egypt. He miraculously brought them out and now They turned and rejected the God of Israel.

The people of Israel did not want a theocratic King whose first requirement would be to maintain.

The law.

Deuteronomy 1714 says this when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you and you Possess it and live in it and you say I will set a king over me like all nations who are around me. You shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses one from among your countrymen.

You shall set as a king over yourselves. You may not put a foreigner over yourselves. Who is not your countrymen? That was in verses 18 through 20. Now it came. It it shall come to pass when he sits on the throne of his kingdom.

He shall write for himself a copy of the law on a scroll in the presence of the political priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life. That he may learn to fear the Lord his God.

Being by carefully observing all the words of the law in the statutes that his heart May be filled and lifted up above his countrymen. And that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right or to the left.

So that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel. That was the way God intended it. It wasn't Wrong to have a king over Israel. It was completely sinful in the manner that they did.

So the Israelites only wanted a soldier they wanted an army they wanted to put an end to the state of anarchy. They wanted just to be able to cultivate their fields. Live in peace without any danger from being attacked by the Philistines or the Emirates.

Their reasoning showed a great lack of trust and reverence for Jehovah.

Yes.

Yes, right. Right, so if I understand that what you're saying is that God of course being sovereign Understood what Israel was going to do and this was already planned long before Samuel became judge.

So it wasn't that having a king over Israel was wrong, but it was ultimately the result of Them rejecting the theocratic King Jehovah as their God and their King.

Yes.

Right and this resulted because of their sin and yet God had already made place for it in Deuteronomy the verse the passage I just quoted which also shows The essence of how everything was done by the law.

What what did they first do? They would write a copy of the law. They would read it daily. Think about that Pentateuch the first five books of the Bible. He was to live and rule according to God's law with justice and mercy and yet godly.

Oversight that was a design and yet because of the Israelites rebelling at this point It came to pass as a result of their sin rather than the appointment that godly rulers made this decision it came about because they rejected God and they Wanted Samuel out, but the main idea here is They didn't reject Samuel.

Samuel was God's vessel. They rejected Jehovah, that's the point you were making. They sent. Exactly. This was the reason that at this point in history It's now going to become a kingdom a king rule Israel like all the deeds verse 8 which they had done since the day I brought them up from Egypt even to this day in that they have forsaken me and served other gods.

So they are doing to you. Look how kind that was to Samuel. He was it had to be hurting here he served all his days and Then to have him rebel essentially and send the elders to his home and Say we don't want you anymore.

We want a king just like all the rest of the nations. They didn't say we want a king as it was Given to us in the writings of Deuteronomy One that would lead us with God's law. That isn't what they wanted.

They wanted an army. They only cared about having victory in war. They only wanted to be in comfort and prosperity. They were thinking only of themselves. The Lord's answer was perhaps surprising since God did not seem indignant at all.

With Sam. Regarding what happened God had given him several replies. Now I won't be able to make through all this but first he ministered to his servant Samuel by assuring That the fault did not lie with him.

Samuel did not fail Israel the people were not rejecting him as God pointed out in verse 7. For they have not rejected you. But they have rejected me from being king over them. The Israelites had rejected Jehovah from the time that they had set been set free from bondage of The Egyptians and brought out of Egypt even to this day as this was pinned.

Israel's unbelief and rebellion were a reoccurring problem. Some of you just finished reading judges. What was the cycle there?

Sin.

Consequences punishment. Turn back to God. Cycle after cycle after cycle throughout the entire book. This should have been encouraging to all God's people as we think of how God handled this. He didn't rebuke Didn't even say anything about Samuel nothing.

He encouraged him. Second of all He now is going to be kind enough and gracious enough to his people Israel to warn them. Okay, you want a king? You'll get a king. This is what's going to happen. This is what will be beginning next time.

The consequences. Peter.

Yes.

The encouragement to Samuel was to let him know that it wasn't him that they were rejecting.

Oh.

Evidently. No, that isn't the way God presented it to Samuel. He didn't say anything about his sons. He didn't say well because you have neglected your sons they did this sin which brought reproach on Israel.

He didn't say that He did he could have. But he knew that that wasn't Samuel's fault. They were accountable for their own sin. Remember what I just read earlier from Ezekiel. So it's important that we understand God loved Samuel.

That was his vessel for that period. So he was kind enough to Show him Samuel. It's not you. They hate me they rejected me. That makes sense. Okay. All right. We're gonna stop here, but I want us to Try to think about what this may mean in our lives.

Do we reverence God do we give him the throne of our lives. God wants that he wants us to yield to his word to love him daily and To reflect that in our lives, but he wants us in his word. That's the only way we can know how God wants us to live, but it's also the only way to have a deeper understanding of who God is.

And what he has done Father we thank you for your word. We thank you for what you have done through your servant Samuel which has been a lesson for us both positive as well as Some of the faults that we find and yet through it all You have shown your vast love and your compassion and your grace.

Which even to your servant Samuel in this period where he was hurting. You gave him encouragement we thank you Lord that you're also a just God and We know that You will keep us and that we know also.

You will correct us chastise us when needed to turn us back to you. May we honor you may we honor your word and may you be glorified as we continued this Worship time we give you praise and thanksgiving and Jesus precious name.

Amen.