1 & 2 Samuel

1 Samuel Chapter 8

I found this among the writings of Finis Dake, I thought was interesting.

Harmony of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings, and 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles
For a better understanding of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings, and 1 Chron. and 2 Chron., there are 115 harmonies of events noted in the headings of the text in these books. Like the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—they can and should be harmonized. The books of Chronicles (originally one book) are entirely independent of the books of Samuel and Kings. Bible critics often create their own difficulties, and have done so with these books by assuming that they should be alike; because they are not, it is supposed there are descrepancies. Samuel and Kings give the events from the human, historical, and chronological standpoint as viewed by the natural man. Chronicles, on the other hand, gives the Divine, moral, and spiritual viewpoint—things viewed by God without regard to chronology which is sometimes ignored to emphasize the moral, religious, and spiritual causes or consequences of the historical facts. Samuel and Kings give the complete history of both kingdoms of Israel, while Chronicles gives only the history as it relates to the house of David and the ruling tribe of Judah, as being founded on God’s covenant with David and his seed.

Israel Demands a King

• 1Samuel 8:1  And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 

The authority of his sons were not the same as former judges. Samuel was both a judge and a prophet. His sons did not have the same type of authority Samuel had.

Here is what Adam Clarke says about the sons:

He made his sons judges - He appointed them as his lieutenants to superintend certain affairs in Beer-sheba, which he could not conveniently attend to himself. But they were never judges in the proper sense of the word; Samuel was the last judge in Israel, and he judged it to the day of his death.

• 1Samuel 8:2  Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 
• 3  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 

Just as Eli's sons did, so did Samuel's sons. This is a weakness we see today among people with authority, also children of those in authority. This shows us that we should not always turn any work of God whether it is pastors, teachers, prophets or any leadership over to our children because they are our children. They should be chosen according to the calling of God and His divine will. We have to seek Him, pray and wait for Him to direct our paths. We saw also this stuff going on among the priesthood of Aaron.

• 1Samuel 8:4  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 
• 5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

I could understand their reasoning if it was because of Samuel's sons but it is not their reason to ask for a king. They wanted to do what other nations did. Copy catting is never good. This is another reason that we need to study the word of God and seek Him in starting churches, appointing elders and even running the governments. We need the guidance and help of God in all things or we will have and we do have the same problems Israel had.

• 1Samuel 8:6  But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 
• 7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 
• 8  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 
• 9  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 

God spoke to Samuel and told him that the people were not rejecting the authority of Samuel but the authority of God Himself. So sad. Their motive was rejection of divine authority. This was the beginning of Israel departing from God and parroting other nations that were evil.

Samuel's Warning Against Kings

• 1Samuel 8:10  And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 
• 11  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 
• 12  And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 

This means they will be plowing the ground. Doing hard labor for the king not for themselves to enjoy the fruit of the ground.

• 1 Samuel 8:13  And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 
• 14  And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 
• 15  And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 
• 16  And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 
• 17  He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 
• 18  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 

When they cry to the Lord for deliverance from the king's oppression, God will not answer because they rejected Him and wanted an earthly king to reign over them.

The Lord Grants Israel's Request

• 1Samuel 8:19  Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 
• 20  That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 

They wanted to be like other nations. They were blinded with unbelief in God and began to desire the ways of other nations that didn't know God. This is so sad to hear. They didn't know what they were giving up.

• 1 Samuel 8:21  And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 
  22  And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. 

God told Samuel to grant them their request. Sometimes God will give us what we want and let us make our own mistakes if we keep refusing to acknowledge Him and His word. What that does is open the door to evil, deception and our children reap the consequences. Each generation gets worse and worse. Eventually God removes His hand of protection and the very nations they covet after become their oppressors and brings them under severe bondage. That is what happens later that the prophet Jeremiah warns of.

God has a better way. A holy way and nothing but good. Evil men will get worse and worse until God says that is enough. This caused the world wide flood. Latter day judgment will be fire. It doesn't have to be that way. God has a better way through faith in His Son Jesus our Christ. The wicked will reject us but our reward will be eternal life with a new body that can never be harmed or die again. We can be filled with His Holy Spirit and walk in holiness. It is our choice to make. True religion can never be forced. When the Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus, we have the free will to say yes or no. This world's system is temporary no matter how powerful they profess to be or how powerful they seem to be in our eyes. It will be gone one day and the kingdom of God will rule supreme forever. -DC

1 Samuel Chapter 9