The King and His Friend

1 Samuel 18:1-4[i]

God describes himself as King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is the creator of the universe and ruler over all.  He is more than a King, but some of our relationship to him is best understood by the metaphor of a king.

He is also a covenant God.  In other words, He makes promises, and He keeps His promises. 

The character of God never changes.  Therefore, His promises never fail.

We are created in the image of God. 

We make promises, but our promises fail because of sin.  Sin has marred the image of God in man.  However, there are incidents recorded in history where human actions reflect the character of God.  Today we are going to consider just such an incident in the life of David.  In the relationship of David and Jonathan, we see reflected a glimpse of God's character.  It is part of God’s character to make promises.

In 1 Samuel 17, we read the story of the young shepherd, David, killing the giant, Goliath.  After David killed Goliath, he was taken immediately to meet the King.  1 Samuel 17:57-58 tells us:

As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.  “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said.

And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”

I don't know how long David stood there talking with Saul, holding the Philistine’s head, but 1 Samuel 18:1 tells us, “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”  (ESV)[ii]  This text suggests that there was an immediate bond between David and Jonathan. 

The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.

There was an immediate bond between these two men that lasted throughout the lifetime of David.  Long after Jonathan was dead, David honored his friendship with Jonathan.  David took Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, into his house, and gave Mephibosheth all of the property that had belonged to Saul.

1 Samuel 18:1 tells us that Jonathan loved David as his own soul. 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  (ESV)

When we love, we reflect the image and character of God.  Jonathan’s selfless love for David is a good example of this.

There is not much negative recorded about Jonathan.  He was an excellent soldier.  He was not afraid to take on the entire Philistine army by himself.  1 Samuel 14 tells the story of Jonathan taking his armor bearer and challenging a Philistine outpost.  At that time, He said, “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.”  (1 Samuel 14:7)  Years later, Jonathan died a faithful son standing beside his father in battle.

The love that Jonathan showed to David is an example of the love that we are expected to show to our neighbors.  It should be demonstrated in our families.  This kind of love is what a father should demonstrate toward his children.  This kind of love should be demonstrated by a husband toward his wife.  This is the kind of love that Christ demonstrates toward the Church.

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, ESV)  When the Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world . . .” It is referring to this demonstration of God's love, the giving of His own Son for our sakes.

In the relationship between David and Jonathan, Jonathan was the superior.  He was the Prince.  David was a shepherd.  Jonathan was the King's son.  David was the King's servant.  Jonathan was heir to the throne.  David was not heir to anything.  There could not have been any apparent benefit for Jonathan in his relationship with David.  And yet, the Scriptures tell us that their souls were knit together.  I believe this was the Spirit of God at work.  David showed his faith in being willing to face Goliath.  Jonathan showed the same kind of faith in a different battle where he challenged the entire Philistine army and won.  Their souls were knit together in the kinship of the love of God.

We also find ourselves knit together in the body of Christ by a common love for God, and a common salvation.  As we have already noted, 1 John 4:8 says, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  (ESV)

Although there is no apparent benefit for Jonathan, we can find reason for their souls being knit together.  However, it is harder to understand why and how it is that God loves us.  Why has God chosen to knit our souls to His?  We are created in His image, but that image has been marred by sin.  Our own choice has made us enemies of God.  And yet, He calls us His friends when we put our trust in Jesus Christ.

1 Samuel 18:3 tells us, "Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul."  (ESV)

We have already noted that Jonathan was David's superior.  It was his position and right to demand allegiance from David.  And here, contrary to social custom and rank, Jonathan unilaterally makes a covenant with David.  He swore an oath to David.

Another place we see such unilateral promises is when God reaches out to us.  God unilaterally swore an oath to Abraham.  God unilaterally gave His promise to David.  And, God unilaterally gives His promises to you and to me.

We cannot earn it. 

We do not deserve it. 

However, the Bible says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."  (John 1:12, ESV) 

What if David had refused Jonathan? 

The Prince, the King's own son, was offering David his friendship.  Why would David refuse?  And yet, God offers His friendship to us and many refuse. 

Let me make it clear to you how to enter into a personal friendship with God.  He is offering it.  It is a gift.  Therefore, all anyone must do to receive it is accept it.  God is not hard of hearing.  As a matter of fact, He can hear your thoughts.  So if you want to accept God's gift of friendship, just tell Him.

If a friend offers you a gift, what do you do when you receive it?  You thank them!  Should we not thank God for His tremendous gift?  If you have told God you want to accept His gift, then it is time to start thanking Him for His gift.

Since His mercies are new every morning, it is a good idea to thank Him every morning. 

1 Samuel 18:4 tells us, “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.”  ESV

We have seen the selfless love of Jonathan toward David.  We have seen his one-sided covenant, and now we see this selfless act.

To be given a piece of clothing the king or his son had worn was considered the highest honor possible.  This custom continued so that at the time of Esther, Mordechai was honored by wearing the king’s robe.  Before the time of David, Joseph was honored by being dressed in a royal robe.  In Joseph’s case, there was additional authority given when Pharaoh gave Joseph Pharaoh’s signet ring, thereby giving Joseph the authority to sign Pharaoh’s name.

Jonathan did something even more drastic.  He gave David his armor!  This is certainly a symbol of brotherhood, but it can be a symbol of much more.  For a sovereign to give up his armor without receiving the same in return is likely to be a symbol of giving up the throne.  It is likely that Jonathan’s act recognized David as successor to Saul and thus Jonathan’s replacement as heir apparent.  Throughout their relationship and subsequent events, it is clear that Jonathan recognized David was to be the next king and Jonathan was more than okay with that.  He supported it.

Jonathan’s selfless devotion to David is nothing short of astounding.  In the same way, God’s gracious treatment of us is amazing.

God has clothed us with Christ’s righteousness.  Isaiah 61:10 says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”  (ESV) 

In addition, God promises to give us glory.  Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Furthermore, God has given us Kingdom authority.  Jesus told us that He was giving us the keys of the kingdom of heaven and that whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven and that whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 

As if that is not enough, God has also given us a home in heaven, in His house.  Jesus said that he was going to prepare a place for us that where he is there we may be also.

The person who trusts in Christ has been made a joint heir with Christ.

Being a Christian does not make you ruler of the universe, but it does mean the ruler of the universe is your friend, your close personal friend. 

By giving us His Spirit, He gives us of Himself.  We have the mind of Christ.  This same Spirit is a seal of our inheritance, proof that our home and our citizenship are in heaven.

David became king because God unilaterally made a covenant with him.  God makes promises and keeps them.  The covenant between Jonathan and David lasted only as long as they lived. 

God will live forever. 

Therefore, He can make an everlasting covenant.

God is unilaterally offering you his friendship today.  He will forgive all your offenses against Him, clothe you with His righteousness and make you His child and heir.  God is able to do this because Jesus paid for it all.  All you have to do is receive it.

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[i]Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii]  Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

The Shepherd-King

1 Samuel 16-17[i]

The 23^rd Psalm starts out, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” This is an emphatic statement that captures the heart with its comfort and security.  Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  (John 10:11, ESV)[ii]  God was the Shepherd-King of Israel but they asked for a human king.

(1 Samuel 8)

When Israel wanted a king, God gave them the tallest, best-looking man in the country.  At first, he proved to be just what they wanted.  But as time went on, he proved to be unstable and paranoid.  Later, God would tell them, “In my anger I gave you kings.”  (Hosea 13:11)  We see evidence of this in what followed with Saul.

1 Samuel 16:14 tells us, "Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear."  The only treatment for Saul's malady seemed to be soothing music.  The strong man that the people hoped would be the solution to their problems proved to be their biggest problem.

In the meantime, God had a solution that no one would have imagined.  There was a shepherd watching his sheep in the hills surrounding Bethlehem.  This shepherd had caught the Lord’s eye.

Speaking of the gospel, the Apostle Paul says, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong."  (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV)  This is a principle that we are going to observe in the story of God raising up a shepherd to be the king of his chosen people.

We see this first in His choice of David.  1 Samuel 16: 1-13 tells the story.

God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint the next king.  God told Samuel he would find the next king among the sons of Jesse.  Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed!"

In response, God gave Samuel an important principle.  1 Samuel 16:7 says:

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

God had given the people what they wanted in Saul.  Now, he was choosing a king that would be a shepherd to his people Israel, and appearance wasn't the most important quality.

All seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel, but the one God had chosen was not there.  So Samuel asked, "Do you have any more sons?"  God chose the one son that Jesse overlooked. The Lord doesn’t see things the way we do.  

We need the Lord's guidance in choosing friends, employees, partners and spouses.  Do we stop to ask God for his wisdom in these decisions?  “People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.

We see this in people’s responses to David.  1 Samuel 17:12-37 tell this story.

The Philistines and Israelites were fighting again.  They fought throughout the life of Saul.  David's older brothers were in Saul's army and were in on the fighting.  David was at home watching the sheep.  However, his father sent him to check on his brothers in the battle.  When David showed up, he found the two armies in a stalemate.  Nobody had done anything for 40 days.

A man named Goliath was the problem.  He was huge, powerful and seemed unbeatable.  Goliath would come out every day and offer a challenge to one-on-one combat and the army of the victor would be victorious.

When David arrived at the scene, he saw the standoff.  What is more, he saw the Israelite army running in terror from this giant.  So, he started asking questions.  "What will the king do for the person who beats this loudmouth?"  "Won't somebody go out there and shut this guy up?"

Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard David asking such questions and rebuked him sharply.  He said:

“What are you doing around here anyway?  What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of?  I know about your pride and deceit.  You just want to see the battle!”  (1 Samuel 17:28)

Here we see the principal work, "God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty."  Eliab did not think David even had any business being on the battlefield let alone having his pipsqueak brother be the one to fight Goliath.  He treated David like the snot-nosed kid he thought David was.

However, this did not deter David.  He kept right on asking his questions.  He stirred up so much trouble that the king heard of it.  Saul was Israel's man of valor. (1 Samuel 15:12 he was setting up a monument to himself.)  He was their king.  He was big, handsome and had fought many battles.  As the leader of the armies, he was responsible for letting things come to a stalemate.  Fighting Goliath was his job.  He tried to pass it off with tax breaks, rewards and even marriage to his daughter to get other men to fight the battle for him.  So, you can bet that he wanted to know who was asking questions about why nobody would shut Goliath up.  When Saul saw David, David said, "Don't worry about this Philistine, I'll go fight him!"  (1 Samuel 17:32)

Saul's response demonstrates the principle, "God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty."  Saul said, “Don’t be ridiculous!  There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win!”  (1 Samuel 17:33)

David’s response gives us another important principle.  “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”  1 Samuel 17:37

Let’s review the two principles we’ve seen so far.  If we feel overlooked or discounted by the world, we see the principle that God looks at the heart.  Make sure your heart is right with God.  Don’t live to impress men.  In answer to being overmatched and out gunned we see the principle that God is able to deliver us from our troubles.  Make sure your confidence is in God.

There is one more principle that we need to cover.

God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.

We see this in David’s battle.                                                                                   

Saul agreed to let David fight Goliath.  He also offered his armor to David.  Being the king, Saul would have had the best armor.  However, David refused the armor.  He tried it and found that he was too unfamiliar with it.  It did not fit who he was.  He was a shepherd, and he was used to the tools of a shepherd.

Having the best armor and technique is the way the world sees that things should be done.  However, the Bible says, “Do not be conformed to this world.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)  The New Living Translation says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.” 

David refused the best armor, and chose his slingshot instead.  David was experienced with the use of this weapon. 

The use of a sling in battle was not an unheard of thing.  Judges 20:16 tells of soldiers that used slings when it says, “Among Benjamin's elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.” 

I wonder why Goliath did not duck or catch the stone on a shield.  We cannot know, since we are not told.  However, it is interesting to notice what Goliath said to David as David approached him.  “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?”  Goliath was looking at what David most likely had in his right hand where he saw what he called a stick.  The text tells us that David rushed toward Goliath and while rushing pulled out a stone and put it in his sling.  Rushing like this would have left less time for Goliath to react.  If he used his left hand like the Benjamites did, then it leaves even less time for Goliath to react.

David went with a plan and a strategy.  The text tells us he took five stones.  Why?  We can only speculate, but it is interesting to note that according to 2 Samuel 21:16-22, Goliath had four brothers.  Five could have been a random number and David could have been prepared for a miss.  With such a small number, he certainly was not planning on taking on the whole Philistine army.  I tend to think that David had a purpose in five stones.

David was experienced, probably even expert with a sling and a stone.  He went with what he knew how to do.  He had not started out to fight Goliath.  He had not been hunting for adventure.  He found himself in a situation where someone needed to face down a giant, and he saw a way to do it.  However, David’s confidence was not in His abilities or ideas.  His confidence was in the Lord.  In 1 Samuel 17:46-47 he says:

“Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head.  And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!  And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear.  This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 

The principle here is found in the phrase, “This is the Lord’s battle.”

In 1 Samuel 2:9 it says, “He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness.  No one will succeed by strength alone.”

God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.

Let’s review the principles we’ve seen today.  In answer to being overlooked and discounted by the world, we see the principle that God looks at the heart.  Make sure your heart is right with God.  Don’t live to impress men.  In answer to being overmatched and out gunned we see the principle that God is able to deliver us from our troubles.  Make sure your confidence is in God.  In answer to our fights and our struggles, remember the battle is the Lord’s. 

No need to go out looking for a fight.  God is preparing you or has prepared you for the battle He wants you to fight.  Keep your heart right with Him and your confidence in Him and you will see Him use the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, like the shepherd who became a king.

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Who is King?

1 Samuel 15[i]

Saul was Israel's first King. 

The people insisted they wanted a king.  God chose a man they would like.  He was the son of a wealthy, influential man named Kish.  1 Samuel 9:2 tells us, "His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel – head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land."

Saul proved to be just what the people wanted.

1 Samuel 14:47-48 tells us:

Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines.  And wherever he turned, he was victorious.  He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.

However, some of what the Lord had warned the people about happened early in the reign of Saul.  1 Samuel 14:52 tells us, “The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime.  So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.”  In chapter 8 of

1 Samuel, the Lord warned Israel that a king would takes their sons, and this started early in the reign of the first king.

As Saul solidified his position as King and Israel’s standing as a nation, it was necessary for him to do a lot of fighting.  The Lord's blessing is obvious in that wherever he turned he was victorious.  He also was a man of valor.  1 Samuel 14:48 says, "He performed great deeds."  This is just what the people wanted.  They wanted a man of valor who would go before them in battle and be victorious.

After Saul was established as King, 1 Samuel 15:1 tells us, “One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the LORD who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel.  Now listen to this message from the LORD!”  We see in this verse that the Lord establishes his authority.  The Lord caused Saul to be anointed King.  The people are described as the Lord's people.  Therefore, although Saul was king, he was under the authority of God.  He answered to God, and now God had something for him to do.

This is what this article is about today.  "Who is king?"  Saul was king, but he ruled under the King of Kings. 

Each one of us has a sphere of influence or authority.  We have that jurisdiction over which we have the freedom and the authority to make decisions.  It may be as small as the right to choose which game to play or which doll to pull out of the toy box.  Or, it may be the right to choose which career to pursue.  Each person has the right and authority to make decisions regarding their own life.  Some people are entrusted with the authority to make decisions affecting groups of people.

However, each person answers to a higher authority and we all must give an account to God for how we conduct ourselves in this life.  Saul, the King, was no different.  God had made him king and God had authority over him as king.

Therefore, God gave the following instructions:

I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.  Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.  1 Samuel 15:2-3

When God said to completely destroy the Amalekite nation, he used a term that Saul would have been familiar with.  The term meant to devote something to destruction.  As an example of what this means, we can consider what happened when Israel attacked Jericho.  Joshua 6 tells us that God specified that Jericho was to be devoted to destruction.  Everything living was to be killed.  Everything perishable was to be burnt, and everything made from silver, gold, bronze or iron was to be taking into the treasury of the Lord because it was sacred to him.

There was a man named Achan.  When Israel invaded Jericho, Achan saw some beautiful clothing and some silver and gold, so he kept them for himself, hiding them under his tent.  In the next battle, Israel was defeated by a tiny nation, and 36 of Israel's warriors died.  Achan’s sin was exposed as the cause of Israel’s defeat, and Achan’s whole family died in God's judgment.

Saul knew and understood this history.  When Samuel said to completely destroy the Amalekite nation, Saul knew what was expected.  However, “Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them.  They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.”  1 Samuel 15:9

Notice the words "everything, in fact, that appealed to them."  This is a clue for us as to where Saul's heart was.

There is another clue in 1 Samuel 15:12 where it says, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself.”

Who is king?  Saul is king!

Agag was important only as a trophy of war to bolster Saul’s self-esteem. A monument was important only as a reminder to bolster Saul’s self-esteem. 1 Samuel 15:17 says, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel?  The LORD has anointed you king of Israel.”  The English Standard Version translates this, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel?  The LORD anointed you king over Israel.”

From the monument and the reminder from God of Saul’s anointing, we can gather that Saul’s feelings about himself are involved.

Now let’s see what God says about Saul.  In 1 Samuel 15:11, God says, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.”  The English Standard Version says, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.”  Saul turned back from following God.  He was disloyal.

The New Testament warns us believers against having such a heart.  It says:

But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.  Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.  James 1:6-8

This is a picture of Saul, or perhaps Saul is a picture of the person whose loyalty is divided.  According to this passage from James, the problem is the person’s faith is not in God alone.  Other translations translate this as to ask in faith without doubting or wavering.

Faith and our divided loyalties are connected.  The Bible tells us that friendship with the world means enmity with God.  (James 4:4) 

We see two things in Saul’s story that were at the root of his downfall. 

The first was his attraction to the material blessings the world has to offer. 

The second was his thoughts about himself and his position.

These fall right in line with what the New Testament tells us the world has to offer.  1 John 2:16 says, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”  Saul displayed “a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements.”  This is where his friendship with the world started.  This brought about enmity with God, divided loyalty and doubts.

Considering what God had done for him, why would Saul have been disloyal?

God had raised Saul up from obscurity to a place of power, influence, riches and fame.  However, as much as we might seek these things, they never satisfy the deepest needs of the soul.

Consider what God has done for you.

He gave His one and only Son to die in your place and to pay the price for your sins.  We may try to deny it, but we are a selfish, greedy, sinful people along with the rest of humanity.  Each of us deserved to be up there on that cross, but Jesus took our place.

However, God did not stop with paying the price for our sins.  Along with His Son, He has also blessed us with everything we need for life and godliness.  He has blessed us with heavenly riches and spiritual blessings.  He has given us His Holy Spirit and His promises.  2 Peter 1:4 tells us, “These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.”

Why would we have divided loyalties?

Who is king of your life?

When God asks for a tenth of all He gives you, do you draw back?

When God tells you to forgive those who sin against you, do you hesitate?

When God tells you to love your neighbor as yourself, do you wholeheartedly comply?

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

Being Like Others

1 Samuel 8[i]

The people of Israel had a problem. 

Samuel, who had been their judge and leader for many years, had appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, to be judges.  However, Samuel's sons were greedy and wicked men.  Israel had a history of such men.  Samuel had been the one who pronounced God's judgment on Eli and his sons for the same problem.  In addition, during the time of the judges, Israel had been repeatedly oppressed by the surrounding nations.  The Moabites, the Midianites, the Ammonites and the Philistines were a few of the nations that overran and oppressed Israel.

Judges chapter 2 makes it clear that the reason these nations were able to overrun Israel is because the Israelites rebelled against God and God turned them over to their enemies.

Therefore, between evil greedy descendants of good judges and strong, powerful nations surrounding them, the children of Israel were ready for change.  The elders of Israel gathered to talk with Samuel.  They were not really seeking a solution.  They had a solution.  They saw the strong nations around them and saw that those nations all had kings.  They had determined that a King was the solution to their problem.

Judges 2:21-22 says, “I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.  I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did.”

The solution to Israel's problem was to follow the ways of the Lord.  The answers they were seeking could have been found by seeking the Lord. 

They expressed three things that they wanted from a King: 1) someone to judge them, 2) someone to lead them and 3) someone to fight their battles.  These three things reflect a desire for peace and prosperity.  They wanted to be strong.  They wanted justice enforced.  They wanted protection from the strong nations around them.  They saw the solution as having a strong powerful leader in the person of a king. 

However, the answer was to call upon and rely upon the name of the Lord.  All these things God had promised to provide if they were but faithful to his covenant.

Proverbs 14:12 tells us, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”  We are all prone to do this.  As the old hymn said, "Prone to wander Lord I feel it."[ii]  The things that happened to Israel happened as an example to us.  We can learn much from them.

Jeremiah 17:5 says, “This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD.” 

In the next part of the story of 1 Samuel 8, we see this curse played out.  This would be 1 Samuel 8:10-18.  The results are predictable.  Israel had a problem.  They tried to solve it in their own way without God and so the results were predictable.

A rough outline of these verses would be: 1) a King will take your sons, 2) a King will take your daughters and 3) a King will take your property.  This of course describes slavery.  The king would take for his own benefit without regard to the cost to the people he was ruling.  This could have been seen and understood simply by looking at the nations around them.  This could have been understood from Israel's own history and experience with Egypt.  The prediction given in 1 Samuel 8 does not require the foreknowledge of God to understand.  A good look at history would teach all the lessons here.

This is how we are when we want something.  We become blind to the predictable consequences.

God describes the situation from his point of view in Isaiah 65:1-2.

The LORD says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help.  I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.  I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’  to a nation that did not call on my name.  All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people.  But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes.”

The book of Proverbs chapter 8 (It is best if you turn to Proverbs for yourself on this one) personifies wisdom calling out to everyone and says:

¹Listen as Wisdom calls out!

Hear as understanding raises her voice!

²On the hilltop along the road,

she takes her stand at the crossroads.

³By the gates at the entrance to the town,

on the road leading in, she cries aloud,

⁴“I call to you, to all of you!

I raise my voice to all people.

⁵You simple people, use good judgment.

You foolish people, show some understanding.

Then in chapter 9 verse 12 it says, “If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.”

This predictability in life applies to so many different situations.  I will list just a few as examples.  The Bible warns us against so many things, but we want what we want and so we end up in slavery because we refuse to listen.  We refuse to learn from history.  We refuse to learn by observing those around us.

Example 1.  Sex outside of marriage.  God warns us against sex before marriage and sex outside of marriage.  The consequences are many, varied and far-reaching.  Psychological issues like trust and self-worth are involved.  Social issues such as children, parenting and family are involved.  Health issues such as disease and addiction are involved.  I could go on, but I have other examples.

Example 2.  Alcohol.  God warns us about the abuse of alcohol.  Proverbs 23:29-31 says:

Who has anguish?  Who has sorrow?  Who is always fighting?  Who is always complaining?  Who has unnecessary bruises?  Who has bloodshot eyes?  It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.  Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.

One only has to look at the consequences of alcohol abuse in the world around us to know that it is a very serious problem.  And yet, our world tends to mock teetotalers.

Example 3.  Homosexual relations.  God warns against it.  God warns that a man should not look at a woman with lust in his heart.  We are expected to turn our eyes. This applies to all sexual desires.  God warns men and women against letting lust control them and/or acting on sexual desires outside of marriage.  Sexual desires whether homosexual or heterosexual are to be under submission to God.  The consequences for homosexual relations are much the same as for sex outside of marriage.  However, we want what we want, and are blind to the consequences.

I could go on with examples.  Should I talk about gluttony, greed, envy, malice, jealousy, gossip or strife? 

On the other hand, perhaps I should talk about tithes and offerings.  God encourages us to test his generosity, and see if he does not pay us back much more than what we give to him.  Perhaps none of these examples speak to any issue in your life.  However, I am certain that there are areas where your obedience to God is tested.  There is a way for every person that seems right to that person, but it ends in death.  (Proverbs 14:12)

We all face problems.  We all want peace and prosperity.  However, seeking to get these things our own way leads to predictable results.  Going our own way leads to slavery and death.  Moreover, if we insist, God is very practical.  He will let us have our way.

This is what we see in 1 Samuel 8:19–22.  In verse 22, God says, "Do as they say, and give them a king."  As a background to this, we should say that God had told Samuel, "They don't want me to be their King any longer."  (1 Samuel 8:7)

It is enlightening to hear what God has to say about this incident at the end of the time of the kings.  Hundreds of years later, God speaks of this incident and says:

Now where is your king?  Let him save you!  Where are all the leaders of the land, the king and the officials you demanded of me?  In my anger I gave you kings, and in my fury I took them away.  (Hosea 13:10-11)

Notice especially that God says, "In my anger I gave you kings."  The people got what they wanted.  They may have even thought of that as a blessing.  When they got their king, they celebrated and rejoiced.  However, it was just as God said.  Predictably, they ended up calling out to God for deliverance from the very king they had wanted.

God is very practical.  He does not enslave us - he delivers us from slavery.  He does not force himself on us - he invites us to himself.  If we refuse him, he lets us have our own way.

Romans 1 teaches clearly on this subject.  Romans 1:21 says, “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  As a result, their minds became dark and confused."  In the following verses, it says three times, “God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.”  These are found in verse 24, verse 26 and verse 28 of Romans 1.  In summary, verses 29 through 31 say:

Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.  They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful.  They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.  They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

As we said, the things that happened to Israel happened as examples to us.  To avoid their fate, it is such a simple thing.  God tells us that we are blessed if we just put our trust in him.  In John 14:1, Jesus told his disciples, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in me." 

This really is the answer.  It is not in having a king.  It is not in getting what we want.  The good, acceptable and perfect way is the will of God. 

Are you trusting Jesus for everything today?

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii] “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Robert Robinson, 1757.