1 Samuel 8: 1-9
New Century Version (NCV)
1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges for Israel.2 His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. Joel and Abijah were judges in Beersheba.3But Samuel’s sons did not live as he did. They tried to get money dishonestly, and they accepted money secretly to make wrong judgments.
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4 So all the elders came together and met Samuel at Ramah. 5They said to him, “You’re old, and your sons don’t live as you do. Give us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”
6 When the elders said that, Samuel was not pleased. He prayed to the Lord,7 and the Lord told Samuel, “Listen to whatever the people say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king.8 They are doing as they have always done. When I took them out of Egypt, they left me and served other gods. They are doing the same to you.9 Now listen to the people, but warn them what the king who rules over them will do.”
The sadness of this exchange is palpable. The picture is one of two friends having a discussion regarding the sad state of affairs of the people. You can detect a sigh from the aging prophet and tears welling up. Samuel’s legacy comes to an end and the hope of his offspring becoming just judges perishes with it.
Samuel obviously had some issues that were never resolved with his sons. Secondly the contrast between him and his sons was so great everyone rebelled. Notice, they did not ask for another leader – judge. They asked for a king. In this sense they felt that the could have some permanence. There were limits to what judges could do, typically they only emerged during times of crises, and to meet daunting, formidable challenges. They were deliverers, not oppressors of the people. Now all of this would change.
Notice that the text said “…Samuel appointed…” Prior to this every judge was appointed by God. Both the people and Samuel bypassed God’s ordination in order to help Him with the transition to new leadership because Samuel would soon be gone — not wise. So God granted the request of the people and an age of apostasy and tyranny would emerge. Before Israel would be victimized by oppressive idol worshipers from without; soon it would come from within.
The moral of this lesson is that we should allow God’s revealed will to us to stand. Whether leading or following, we must obey. God takes a much more active role in the lives of leaders he appoints over His people. We should be able to see Him at work in their lives, no guess work is required. However, we have been deceived into a to a marketing, referral based, yellow page, do it yourself approach to faith. Beware. God may grant you the leader you desire, but it may only be to teach you hard painful lessons. The Shepherd’s preference is always better. Where is He leading you. He may even be calling you to lead others. Follow His leading. It may not be comfortable, but it will be for the best.