Session 4 King? Only God is worthy of being looked to as the Ruler of His people and of His creation. 1 SAMUEL 8:4-9,19-22 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have. 6 But when they said, Give us a king to lead us, this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let Date of My Bible Study: 41
them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights. [...] 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. No! they said. We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles. 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, Listen to them and give them a king. Then Samuel said to the Israelites, Everyone go back to your own town. Highlight the reasons given by the people of Israel for seeking a human king. What are the flaws of each excuse? FIRST THOUGHTS Although the legends of King Arthur are a familiar source of enjoyment for us today, the tales originated from a culture of people who felt doubtful even fearful about their future survival. In the face of invading foreign tribes and ever-changing, contentious leadership, the early people of England longed for a protector who was powerful in battle, chivalrous in nature, and of the utmost Christian character. Out of these concerns emerged the tales of King Arthur, the ideal king in every way. It is unlikely that the King Arthur of these legends actually existed in history; nonetheless, these tales have endured for many centuries because they represent the potency of the idea of a king the belief that one powerful leader can make all the difference between devastating defeat and triumphant victory. However, even mythical Arthur s reign carried the seeds of its own destruction the legends conclude that his leadership eventually fell prey to human sin and collapsed. What are your expectations of a leader? What are the qualities of a leader that inspire your trust? 42 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
Like the early people of England, the Israelites also feared invasion and sought a king for their protection. Up to this point, Israel did not have kings like the other nations; judges had led them after Joshua s death (Judg. 2:6-10). These judges were deliverers raised up by God to lead the people out of idolatry and the resulting misfortune. Typically, they were military leaders who guided Israel into battle with foreign enemies, but their impact was limited and temporary (Judg. 2:18). While most of the judges led the nation in battle, Samuel s ministry as a judge demonstrated what Israel truly needed: righteousness, repentance, and a return to the Lord. The Lord God could be all the King that His people ever needed. Unfortunately, the Israelites were blind to such a vision, and as a result, the king they demanded would only delay the repercussions of their sin. KEY DOCTRINE: God God is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT 1 SAMUEL 8:1 11:15 The Book of 1 Samuel is greatly focused on the issue of kingship. Two of the three main characters, Saul and David, were kings. The third main character, Samuel, instituted the monarchy in Israel and anointed these initial regents. In the Hebrew ordering of the books of the Old Testament, 1 and 2 Samuel follow Judges and precede 1 and 2 Kings. In this way, 1 and 2 Samuel serve as a transition between the old era of the judges and the new era of the kings. Provision for kingship had been made during the time of Moses (Deut. 17:14-20), though it was never God s perfect intention. Sometimes in dealing with His people, God would grant a sinful request, but not without painful consequences (Ps. 106:15). Because a monarchy would eventually play a role in the coming of Jesus the Messiah (Luke 1:32-33), the desire for a king by the people actually fell under the umbrella of God s permissive will. Session 4 : King? 43
One aspect of God s dealings with His people was His testing of their commitment to obey His commands through various circumstances (Judg. 3:1-4). The leaders of Israel, whose desires evidently mirrored those of the people as a whole, sought a king out of their fears about impending threats from other nations (1 Sam. 9:16; 12:12). In this way, they departed from the ways of their forefathers who followed Moses at the Red Sea and allowed the Lord to fight the battle with the Egyptians for them (Ex. 14:13-14). The threats on the horizon from the Philistines and the Ammonites served as tests of the Israelites faithfulness to Him. BIBLE SKILL: Synthesize multiple passages related to a similar theme. Review the following passages, looking for guidelines for how Christians should relate to their government or how they should govern: Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-19; and Matthew 20:20-28. Record the insights you gained about government and governing. EXPLORE THE TEXT A KING DEMANDED (1 SAM. 8:4-5) VERSE 4 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. Samuel s home was in Ramah (1 Sam. 7:17), a town associated with the tribe of Benjamin. It was probably located about five miles north of what would eventually become the capital city of Jerusalem. After conferring, all the elders of Israel came to Ramah to talk to Samuel. This meeting would have monumental consequences for the nation. There is no mention of any intentional search for the Lord s will in 44 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
this gathering of leaders prior to approaching Samuel. It appears that their agenda was chosen without consulting the Lord God. If the Lord is truly the ruler of His people, then His will is always top priority, and seeking such should be the primary focus. VERSE 5 5 They said to him, You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have. The basis for the elders approach of Samuel was his advancing age and the dereliction of duty by his sons. Samuel s sons did not walk in his ways and practiced self-serving leadership (8:1-3). While some question Samuel s appointment of his sons as judges, he may have done so both out of practical considerations and obedience to the Law. They served in Beer-sheba, located some distance away in the southern part of the nation. As Samuel aged, travel may have become more difficult for him. He needed assistance in the discharge of his duties. The plan of God always involved a multiplicity of leadership (Deut. 16:18-20). The problem was that Samuel s sons didn t live up to God s standard for leaders. The elders, who represented the thoughts and desires of the people as a whole, drew an erroneous conclusion from the deficient leadership of Joel and Abijah, the sons of Samuel. It is likely that they feared what might happen after Samuel died and his sons assumed leadership. While this may have been a legitimate concern, the elders conclusion possibly revealed a lack of faith in God on their part. What about their request for a king? Was that a sinful request? After all, didn t Moses make provision for this in the Law (Deut. 17:14-20)? The key to understanding this dilemma is found in the words of the elders: such as all the other nations have. Their request was not an attempt to deepen their obedience to the law, thereby fulfilling their covenant responsibilities to God. Rather, it was an inordinate desire to be like the other nations around them. In their request, the elders were admitting something about themselves. They wanted to be like the other nations in spite of the fact that they were called to be distinct and different. Exodus 19:5-6 says they were to be God s own possession out of all Session 4 : King? 45
the peoples of the world, a holy nation. In Leviticus 20:26, God said that He had set them apart from all the rest of the nations to be His own people. Yet they weren t interested in being that. In asking for a king over them, they were revealing how they wanted to be like all the other nations. In so doing, they were actually rejecting God s rule over them by seeking a human king. Sometimes we can put so much faith in another person so as to completely dishonor God. How does a desire to be like other people impact a person s values and character? How does that desire cloud a person s decision making? Not only was this a sinful request, it was an unwise one. If the people feared being led by Samuel s sons, why in the world would they request a form of government (monarchy) based on the succession of sons as leaders? Moving away from trust in God alone often results in irrational behavior. REJECTION DECLARED (1 SAM. 8:6-9) VERSE 6 6 But when they said, Give us a king to lead us, this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. The literal rendering of Samuel s response to the request is strong: the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel. However, true to the nature of a biblical prophet, Samuel did not rely on his own estimation but took the matter to the Lord. Samuel prayed, and in doing so he set before every believer an example. By taking the situation into the presence of the Lord, the prophet was able to rise above mere personal resentment over the request. VERSE 7 7 And the Lord told him: Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. Samuel had been appointed and called by God to lead the people as the Lord s representative. To reject the Lord s messenger and prophet 46 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
(Samuel) was to reject the Lord Himself. Therefore, it is surprising to read that the Lord then told Samuel to grant them their wish instead of rebuking them for their disobedience. Perhaps the key is in the word all, for when the totality of the request was considered, its greater seriousness could be seen. It seems as if God s intent was to let the situation run its course. Sometimes the greatest act of judgment on God s part is to simply give people what they seek. When God says no to His children at times, it can be one of the most gracious things He does for them. God had been Israel s King up to that point (Deut. 33:5), but the people were not satisfied with His rule and reign over them. The request of the elders was nothing other than outright rebellion against their rightful Ruler. VERSE 8 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. God told Samuel that the people s response to him was akin to their lack of loyalty to the Lord. Samuel had aged, and the people thought he was either no longer sufficient for the task of leadership or no longer relevant to the times. They were wrong on both counts. God s ability to lead and provide for them had not diminished at all. The Lord was more in touch with the circumstances of international relations than they were. VERSE 9 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights. While Samuel was instructed to give the people what they wanted, the Lord also instructed him to warn them about the dangers of an earthly king. While they were crying for a king, God knew that someday they would be crying because of a king (1 Sam. 8:18). In verses 10-17, Samuel used the word take six times to describe how coming kings would rule the people. While the people s focus was on what they would receive by having a king, God painted a picture for them of what they would lose. One of the dangers for any human ruler is the sinful tendency to exploit one s position for personal gain. Session 4 : King? 47
As our Shepherd, Christ contrasted Himself to a thief who comes to take, not give (John 10:10-13). What does a believer lose by relying on a human authority more than Christ? How do we determine when we should rely on a human entity and when we should not? REBELLION DETERMINED (1 SAM. 8:19-22) VERSES 19-20 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. No! they said. We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles. Samuel s warning did not deter the people; their hearts were set on having a human ruler. The level of intensity in their quest increased from what was seen in verse 5. The selection of a king moved from being preferred to becoming a necessity: We want a king over us. Their true inclinations were exposed in their admission that they would become like all the other nations. Originally, they had simply asked for a king like all other nations had. In response to prophetic warnings, the true spiritual colors of the people had emerged. What do the descriptions of the desired king in verse 20 reveal about the people s hearts? Specifically, the people wanted a king to do two things: to lead them and fight their battles. They were abdicating their responsibilities as citizens in God s community while simultaneously seeking to dislodge the Lord God from His role as Israel s champion in battle (Deut. 20:4; Judg. 4:14). In their eyes, the battle was no longer the Lord s, but theirs. Such is typical of human beings. Sometimes we seek to be less than what God calls us to be, and on other occasions we overreach and try to replace the true God. 48 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
Eventually, Israel would be given a king who would recognize that the battle belonged to the Lord (1 Sam. 17:47). David would become a model for what a true human king of Israel should be. Even in the face of the defiance of His people, God was still merciful and would eventually bring forth good out of the evil in the hearts of His people. VERSES 21-22 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, Listen to them and give them a king. Then Samuel said to the Israelites, Everyone go back to your own town. In contrast to his earlier prayer, Samuel simply repeated the words of the people before the Lord. We can wonder if he was subdued by the lack of faith on the part of the people, but that is unclear according to the text. When disbelief prevails, chaos sets in. While the people should have listened to their prophet, Samuel was instead instructed by the Lord to obey the voice of the people. Such turbulence is the inevitable result of a failure to see God alone as the Ruler and King. Likewise, when people today fail to acknowledge Jesus as the King of kings (Rev. 19:16), personal chaos will be the inevitable result. What does God s allowing Israel to have a king teach us about God? Some people speculate about why Samuel sent the people home instead of initiating immediately the process of finding a king. There is no need to imagine that Samuel was trying to delay the inauguration of a king. However, his behavior was in contrast to that of the people. The selection of a king would need the guidance and direction of the Lord and, as the Lord s messenger, Samuel would wait on God for counsel. Confessing God as Ruler is one thing, but it is something else to trust Him enough to wait on His guidance. Session 4 : King? 49
IN MY CONTEXT God desires His people to be distinct from others, trusting Him in all matters. When we reject God s leaders and their warnings, we are rejecting God in the process. We can trust God to provide godly leaders even when we are tempted to take matters into our own hands. Identify fears or anxieties that threaten your trust in the Lord s guidance and provision. What can your group do to strengthen each person s faith even further? Evaluate your life, looking for times when you rejected God s leaders or the message they presented. What actions do you need to take to respond to these godly leaders warnings and leadership? Who are the leaders God has placed in your life who give you godly counsel and direction? Record a prayer, thanking God for them and asking for God to give them courage and direction to lead you well. MEMORY VERSE And the Lord told him: Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 1 Samuel 8:7 50 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide