Monday, May 27 – 1 Samuel 8, 9 – Additional Reading: Patriarchs and Prophets, Chapter 59, “The First King of Israel”

1. What request did the elders of Israel make to Samuel? (See 1 Samuel 8:4, 5)

2. Whom did God choose to be the first king of Israel? (See 1 Samuel 9:17)

Commentary and Reflection:

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At this moment in history, the elders of Israel approach Samuel with a request: “We want a king.” Until then, they had lived under theocracy, meaning the governance of God. God was the lawgiver and guided the people through His chosen instrument, to whom He communicated His will.

Their request had both an apparent reason and an underlying one. The apparent reason: “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways.” The real reason: “We want a king over us, so we will be like all the other nations.”

Apparent reasons can be deceptive. They are excuses we create to justify underlying motives, which become apparent when the stated reasons are questioned. The danger of apparent reasons is that they contain some truth, as in this story, but they serve to conceal true motivations, not of others, but of ourselves. It is human to be susceptible to self-deception. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Another characteristic of stated apparent is that they can harden the heart; they prevent us from hearing reason. Beware of apparent reasons! They can be used to justify our rejection of God’s will.

I am struck by Samuel’s sensitivity to the criticism about his sons. Raising his sons was a weak point in the life of this exemplary leader. The elders of Israel dared not speak to him about the mistakes and missteps of his sons until it was too late. Patriarchs and Prophets states, “The warning given to Eli had not exerted the influence upon the mind of Samuel that it should have done. He had been to some extent too indulgent with his sons, and the result was apparent in their character and life.” (Patriarchs and Prophets 604)

When they finally talk to him about it, Samuel takes it as a personal attack. “And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.’” (1 Samuel 8:7).

I do not point this out in a spirit of criticism but as a lesson for myself. It is a sensitive point for any parent, but it is worth noting because it can have serious consequences, as seen in the cases of Eli and Samuel.

“The donkeys are lost.” Let us not be discouraged by life’s inconveniences and discomforts. They can be used by God to guide us to His will and reveal His plan. Seeking the counsel of prophets, attending worship, approaching the elders, and seeking advice from wise individuals – these actions will always lead us in the right direction.

May the Lord abundantly bless you on this day.