1 Samuel 8:4-9 – Accepting the reign of God in life

The people came to Samuel in Ramah to ask for a king. Why? It was because Samuel was getting old. This probably had made him less agile and energetic. To help him with his task, he had appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah. They were appointed as judges in Beersheba located in the south. Unfortunately, the two sons, like Eli’s sons, were abusing their position and misbehaving themselves. So, verse 5 tells us that they all came to Samuel in Ramah saying, “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.” 

What’s wrong with their request? It seems logical right? After all, Samuel was physically not as mobile as he was when he was younger. And his two sons whom he had appointed to assist him were conducting themselves in such a way that they have given cause for the elders to be concerned. But their solution to the situation was flawed. They failed to see two things in their request. In asking for a king, they were first abandoning the leadership of the Lord over them. And secondly, they were asking to be like the nations surrounding them. They were in effect requesting an arrangement like all the other nations. In so doing, they had overlooked the fact that it was God who had drawn them to Himself. They were God’s covenanted people. It was God who had made them His special people. So, they belonged to Him and was His treasured possession. Hence, their leadership should come from God.

Verse 6 reveals that Samuel was displeased with their request. Instead of giving them a reply immediately, he prayed to God. Why was Samuel displeased? It’s because he read it as if they were rejecting his leadership. But they were not. This was revealed in the way the Lord responded to their request. He told Samuel saying, “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 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—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 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.”

So, Samuel was told to give in to their request but he was to warn them about the consequence of their choice. Like the Israelites, we need to know that while we have the freedom to select our choice, we have no freedom to select the result of our choice. This should alert us to make our choices carefully. Who do we want to be the ruler of our life? This is a decision we cannot afford to be wrong. We are reminded in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the Kingdom of God. To seek the Kingdom of God is to have King Jesus rule over us, for the Kingdom of God is within us. Today, let us make it our daily decision to choose Jesus and allow Him to reign in all the circumstances of our lives. When we do so, we will discover that it’s a decision that won’t be wrong. Be sure to make Him your King!