Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah to present their petition for a king. Their gathering at Ramah to approach Samuel began the discarding of Samuel before God had released him and the choosing to be ruled by a king. This demand marks the folly of Israel in the days of Samuel.
Their stated occasion was dissatisfaction with the judges. Those who considered themselves wronged by Samuel's sons brought their complaints to the elders, and the elders then came to Samuel at Ramah to bring a complaint against his sons, followed immediately by a request for a king. They said they found no fault with Samuel's own rule, but argued that he was becoming too old and that his sons could not be trusted.
Those complaints provided a pretext for pressing a change in government that many had secretly wanted for a long time. Their meeting arose amid that dissatisfaction yet served as a pretext for seeking a king, though the deeper motive was discontent and pride and they had long desired this change. Their request arose from discontent and pride and reflected a purpose formed through long deliberation, not a sudden impulse.
The demand was a rebellious departure from God's rule and a failure to trust Him to provide leaders. It was a refusal to be under God's jurisdiction and a separation from God's management, rule, and control, renouncing God's rule as divine theocracy. It means Israel had left their first love and come into controversy with God, failing to know the blessing and safety of being led and controlled by the Lord in all ways. Israel was meant to obey the rulers God chose and seek His guidance in difficulty, and to trust the Lord God of Israel as Ruler of the people.
The motive was to be like the other nations and to be recognized by the world, demanding an earthly king so they could be like the nations around them. It was a renouncing of divine theocracy for the sake of outward show and worldly likeness. Israel had been chosen to serve God and be an example to other nations, but the desire to imitate them brought the trouble and distress God warned of through His prophet. Persisting in the demand despite the Lord's warning illustrates taking oneself out of God's hands and putting oneself under worldly, fashionable influence in an attempt at self-exaltation that instead lowers standing and imperils God's work.
Samuel was distressed by their voice and prayed unto the Lord. He was deeply hurt and took the request as a judgment against him and an effort to discard and replace him before God had released him. He kept his hurt to himself because reproaching the people could have caused further harm. God directed Samuel to listen to the voice of the people and let the people's voice decide.
The act came from unsanctified judgment, worldly policy, and spiritual blindness. It was marked by lack of humility, confidence in self, and failure to trust the Lord God of Israel as Ruler of the people. It was a leaning on men and their own judgment instead of trusting God, a relying on human judgment rather than trusting God through pride, self-reliance, and misplaced trust. It meant failure to combine divine power with human effort.
The same spirit repeats whenever God's people bring in a new order of things by human judgment and lay plans God never thought, to carry on His work as seems best and most desirable to themselves. The same folly will be repeated among the people of God today unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self, and more trust and dependence on God. Such dependence is shown by leaning no longer on men, making God the trust, talking less and praying much more, and revealing dependence on God by meekness of spirit, caution in plans and movements, and the mind of Christ.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah to present their petition for a king. Their gathering at Ramah to approach Samuel began the discarding of Samuel before God had released him and the choosing to be ruled by a king. This demand marks the folly of Israel in the days of Samuel.
Their stated occasion was dissatisfaction with the judges. Those who considered themselves wronged by Samuel's sons brought their complaints to the elders, and the elders then came to Samuel at Ramah to bring a complaint against his sons, followed immediately by a request for a king. They said they found no fault with Samuel's own rule, but argued that he was becoming too old and that his sons could not be trusted.
Those complaints provided a pretext for pressing a change in government that many had secretly wanted for a long time. Their meeting arose amid that dissatisfaction yet served as a pretext for seeking a king, though the deeper motive was discontent and pride and they had long desired this change. Their request arose from discontent and pride and reflected a purpose formed through long deliberation, not a sudden impulse.
The demand was a rebellious departure from God's rule and a failure to trust Him to provide leaders. It was a refusal to be under God's jurisdiction and a separation from God's management, rule, and control, renouncing God's rule as divine theocracy. It means Israel had left their first love and come into controversy with God, failing to know the blessing and safety of being led and controlled by the Lord in all ways. Israel was meant to obey the rulers God chose and seek His guidance in difficulty, and to trust the Lord God of Israel as Ruler of the people.
The motive was to be like the other nations and to be recognized by the world, demanding an earthly king so they could be like the nations around them. It was a renouncing of divine theocracy for the sake of outward show and worldly likeness. Israel had been chosen to serve God and be an example to other nations, but the desire to imitate them brought the trouble and distress God warned of through His prophet. Persisting in the demand despite the Lord's warning illustrates taking oneself out of God's hands and putting oneself under worldly, fashionable influence in an attempt at self-exaltation that instead lowers standing and imperils God's work.
Samuel was distressed by their voice and prayed unto the Lord. He was deeply hurt and took the request as a judgment against him and an effort to discard and replace him before God had released him. He kept his hurt to himself because reproaching the people could have caused further harm. God directed Samuel to listen to the voice of the people and let the people's voice decide.
The act came from unsanctified judgment, worldly policy, and spiritual blindness. It was marked by lack of humility, confidence in self, and failure to trust the Lord God of Israel as Ruler of the people. It was a leaning on men and their own judgment instead of trusting God, a relying on human judgment rather than trusting God through pride, self-reliance, and misplaced trust. It meant failure to combine divine power with human effort.
The same spirit repeats whenever God's people bring in a new order of things by human judgment and lay plans God never thought, to carry on His work as seems best and most desirable to themselves. The same folly will be repeated among the people of God today unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self, and more trust and dependence on God. Such dependence is shown by leaning no longer on men, making God the trust, talking less and praying much more, and revealing dependence on God by meekness of spirit, caution in plans and movements, and the mind of Christ.