And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
Samuel heard all the persistent words of the people and rehearsed them in prayer in the ears of the Lord, directed by God to listen and then to lay them before God to seek divine counsel rather than answering from personal hurt or reproaching them, though distressed and grieved by them. The words he carried were the people's decision whether they would discard and set Samuel aside before God had released him and choose to be ruled by a king. In asking for a king they chose a temporal, visible, earthly ruler embodied in a man after the order of the surrounding nations that knew not God, to go in and out before them, rather than keeping God as their divine, heavenly King who was leading and working for them in unseen ways. He was giving them wisdom, power, deliverance and success that enemies could not trace, as when He wrought through Gideon in a manner no man could take glory for, but they wanted that power, wisdom and might on earth instead of in heaven.
Their demand rejected God's special leadership, divine theocracy, direct rule, management, jurisdiction and control, and showed lack of faith in His care and provision and lack of sacred reverent fear of Him as Supreme Ruler. They refused to be controlled by divine authority, invested authority in human power, and carried on the Lord's work by human judgment and worldly policy, giving the Lord a controversy with His people. The request was driven by discontent and pride and by leaving their first love, wanting to be like other nations and to have outward likeness, recognition by the world, outward show and fashionable influence. They imagined their chosen way would bring the most glory to themselves as a nation and keep the nations from despising them, and in spiritual blindness they decided Samuel did not understand the situation, circumstances, motives, designs and advantages and did not look beyond him to discern that they were hearing the word of God through His servant.
Samuel faithfully told the people all the words of the Lord under God's direction, plainly warning them in solemn words and strong testimony that their way was not the right way and the best way, showing them their sin and the manner of the king who would reign over them and the sure results that would follow under a king. The warning did not change their purpose; notwithstanding the warning their minds were bent on following their own mind and judgment, casting aside the wisdom of God and persisting in their own way and consenting to have a king. The Lord then permitted Israel to have their own way and granted them the desire of their unsanctified hearts, giving them a king who reflected their own character and choice according to their own desires. They valued royal appearance, courage and military skill over godliness and justice, so they could learn from the results and return to Him.
The follies of Israel in Samuel's days will be repeated among God's people today unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self and in men and in their own judgment, and more trust in the Lord God of Israel as Ruler. Trading humility and dependence on God for worldly influence and outward show lowers standing and imperils the cause of God, and the work will abide the test only as divine power is combined with human effort. When men make God their trust there will be less talking and much more praying, shown in meekness of spirit and caution in plans and movements, revealing dependence on God and the mind of Christ.
Samuel heard all the persistent words of the people and rehearsed them in prayer in the ears of the Lord, directed by God to listen and then to lay them before God to seek divine counsel rather than answering from personal hurt or reproaching them, though distressed and grieved by them. The words he carried were the people's decision whether they would discard and set Samuel aside before God had released him and choose to be ruled by a king. In asking for a king they chose a temporal, visible, earthly ruler embodied in a man after the order of the surrounding nations that knew not God, to go in and out before them, rather than keeping God as their divine, heavenly King who was leading and working for them in unseen ways. He was giving them wisdom, power, deliverance and success that enemies could not trace, as when He wrought through Gideon in a manner no man could take glory for, but they wanted that power, wisdom and might on earth instead of in heaven.
Their demand rejected God's special leadership, divine theocracy, direct rule, management, jurisdiction and control, and showed lack of faith in His care and provision and lack of sacred reverent fear of Him as Supreme Ruler. They refused to be controlled by divine authority, invested authority in human power, and carried on the Lord's work by human judgment and worldly policy, giving the Lord a controversy with His people. The request was driven by discontent and pride and by leaving their first love, wanting to be like other nations and to have outward likeness, recognition by the world, outward show and fashionable influence. They imagined their chosen way would bring the most glory to themselves as a nation and keep the nations from despising them, and in spiritual blindness they decided Samuel did not understand the situation, circumstances, motives, designs and advantages and did not look beyond him to discern that they were hearing the word of God through His servant.
Samuel faithfully told the people all the words of the Lord under God's direction, plainly warning them in solemn words and strong testimony that their way was not the right way and the best way, showing them their sin and the manner of the king who would reign over them and the sure results that would follow under a king. The warning did not change their purpose; notwithstanding the warning their minds were bent on following their own mind and judgment, casting aside the wisdom of God and persisting in their own way and consenting to have a king. The Lord then permitted Israel to have their own way and granted them the desire of their unsanctified hearts, giving them a king who reflected their own character and choice according to their own desires. They valued royal appearance, courage and military skill over godliness and justice, so they could learn from the results and return to Him.
The follies of Israel in Samuel's days will be repeated among God's people today unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self and in men and in their own judgment, and more trust in the Lord God of Israel as Ruler. Trading humility and dependence on God for worldly influence and outward show lowers standing and imperils the cause of God, and the work will abide the test only as divine power is combined with human effort. When men make God their trust there will be less talking and much more praying, shown in meekness of spirit and caution in plans and movements, revealing dependence on God and the mind of Christ.