Israel's Rejection of Samuel.
By W. N. Glenn
THAT the ancient prophets were fallible men, there is abundant Scripture evidence. That God has chosen to reveal his will to man through men does not prove that the instruments are perfect in themselves; nor do the personal imperfections of a well-accredited messenger, justify his rejection by those to whom he is sent. To reject a representative is to reject the authority which he represents. No prophet ever bore more emphatic evidence of God's recognition than did Samuel; yet perhaps no judge in Israel ever gave the people a more plausible excuse for the rejection of his administration than he did, in his old age. When he became too infirm to attend to all the duties of his office, he appointed his sons to judge the people. It was natural that he should desire to promote his sons, and to have them forward in the service of God. His own undeniable integrity forbids the idea that he had any suspicion that they would reproach his administration. Whether he was utterly ignorant of their real characters, and their unfitness for the position which he wished them to occupy, or whether, knowing their failings, he had hopes that active participation in the service of God would lead to their reformation, we are not told; but supposing him to have been totally blind concerning their dishonesty of heart, that was not proof, as the sequel shows, that Samuel himself was unfit for the high calling to which God had assigned him. Samuel's sons "were judges in Beer-sheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment." This was very aggravating to the people, and it is no wonder they were dissatisfied; nor is it surprising that they should remonstrate against such conduct. But was the extreme course pursued by the elders therefore justifiable? The divinely inspired word answers, No. We are not told what Samuel would have done had they merely set forth their cause of complaint in a proper manner. There is no intimation that he was offended because of the remonstrance, but it is stated that he was displeased "when they said, Give us a king to judge us." However ignorant he may have been as to the true character of his sons when he promoted them, he was not ignorant regarding the consequences of the remedy proposed by the elders of Israel. Now it is quite probable that many of the people concluded that if Samuel were a true prophet he would have discerned the unsuitableness of his sons for so prominent a position in the nation of God's people. They saw only this weakness, and overlooked everything else. Although Samuel's personal character was undeniably above reproach, and the evidences of his recognition by the Lord were abundant, they utterly rejected him on account of his sons, and demanded a king. But what did the Lord say, when the matter was presented before him? "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. 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." 1 Sam. 8: 7, 8. This action, though based upon aggravated circumstances, which presented apparent good reason, is compared with the worst acts ever committed by the children of Israel. And Samuel continued to be the honored and trusted minister of God, living to reprove the king so peremptorily demanded, and finally to announce to him his rejection by the Lord. The record of Samuel's rejection by the Israelites, and the ostensible cause of the action, should be heeded as a standing warning to all who would disregard any faithful messenger of God because of some, perhaps unconscious, weakness, or the inconsistent action of some one else, however intimately connected.