But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
When the elders asked for a king to judge them, Samuel was displeased, distressed and deeply wounded in soul, and he kept his hurt to himself and took the matter to the Lord in prayer to seek counsel from Him. Their demand was not a rejection of Samuel the man but a rejection of God that He should not reign over them, though He was already their King who had appointed their judges and settled their difficulties. They wanted a king like all the nations in order to be like them and to be guided by visible human power they could see rather than by the divine, invisible power and theocracy that had led them until then. The Lord had plainly told them through Samuel that a king was not the right and best way, but He permitted them to have their own way and granted the desire of their unsanctified hearts while warning them of the trouble and consequences that would come. Israel's course revealed too much confidence in self and in men and human judgment instead of trust in the Lord God of Israel as Ruler, and its history is written for the admonition of God's people upon whom the ends of the world are come, lest the same folly be repeated today.
Samuel's Grief and Prayer
The elders' words, give us a king to judge us, displeased Samuel, distressed him, grieved him, and deeply wounded him in distress of soul. The displeasure arose when Israel demanded a king to judge them like all the nations.
He understood the demand as a censure upon his own leadership and a direct effort to set him aside and discard him before God had released him. The people themselves said they found no fault with his administration, pointing only to his age and to the untrustworthiness of his sons.
He made no reproach and did not reveal his feelings, but kept his hurt to himself. He acted so because he feared a bitter exchange could do great harm.
Instead he took the matter to the Lord in prayer and sought counsel from Him. In answer God directed him to listen to the voice of the people and let their voice decide.
Rejecting God for King
The demand was not a rejection of Samuel the man but a rejection of God that He should not reign over them, though the Lord had appointed the judges over His people and was already their King who supported them and settled their difficulties. God told Samuel that the rejection was ultimately of Himself, not of Samuel, and instructed him to grant the request while warning the people of the consequences that would follow. Their act continued the rebellion carried on since the day God brought them up out of Egypt, wherein they forsook Him and served other gods. It was the same rebellion that left their fathers' dead bodies in the wilderness.
The demand reflected a lack of faith in God's care and a rebellious departure from God as Israel's special leader and Ruler, instead of trusting God to choose rulers and guide them through His prophets whose government He had given. The people wanted a king like all the nations in order to be like them, to be recognized by the world, to be esteemed great in the eyes of surrounding nations, and to make a great display of external prosperity and royal glory. This rejected God's design for them to serve as His distinct people and example to the nations. Their demand grew as they adopted their neighbors' customs, lost reverence for God, and envied the display of heathen kings, while tribal jealousy and internal conflict weakened them against enemies and led them to believe only a strong central government could secure their standing among other nations.
They wanted reformed religion and rule, worldly plans and worldly policy, and to be guided by visible human power they could see rather than by the divine, invisible power and theocracy that had led and guided them until then and had given them victory in battle. Spiritually blind to the fact that God's word was reaching them through Samuel, they wanted divine power and rule visibly embodied in a man, instead of trusting God's unseen guidance and deliverance. Their minds were bent on following their own judgment and casting aside God's judgment, weary of the rule of those who kept before them God's will, God's ways, and God's honor. They coveted the influence of men and dishonored God by failing to appreciate His sufficiency, and Satan worked on their hearts until they were bewitched to follow his counsel even in the face of the prophet's solemn protest.
The demand reflected desire to be free of God's rule as their divine Sovereign, to leave first love and exchange God's management, rule, jurisdiction, blessing and safety for unsanctified human judgment, laying plans that had not entered into the mind of God and separating His work from His leading and control. When the heart is estranged from God, pride and self-love and ambition can find excuses to override His instructions, even at the expense of His cause. They wanted their own way rather than seeking God's counsel about the kind of ruler they needed, valuing royal appearance, courage, and military ability above godliness and justice. God knew an earthly king could claim the honor due to Him, exalt himself, and lead the people into sin, and by his decisions harm the innocent and favor the unworthy unless he trusted God for wisdom.
The Lord had plainly told them through Samuel that a king was not the right way and the best way, but He permitted them to have their own way and granted the desire of their unsanctified hearts, who imagined that a king would bring the most glory to themselves as a nation. He instructed Samuel to grant the request while warning them of the trouble their choice would bring. If judges were untrue to their trust and showed unsanctified hearts trusting finite wisdom, it was the people's privilege to set things in order, but not to throw off the authority of the God of heaven. The demand was a sin whose history is written for the admonition of God's people upon whom the ends of the world are come, calling them not to repeat Israel's course of desiring worldly plans and worldly policy.
The warning was fulfilled when they received a king, for God gave them a king who reflected their own character so they could learn from the consequences and return to allegiance to Him. The king they demanded later proved unable to guide them confidently in battle or inspire their trust in God. They and their king failed to follow God's commands fully, relied on human wisdom, and dishonored God, so He no longer supported them. The contrast between Saul's rule and Samuel's faithful leadership made the mistake plain, for the people had wanted to be like the surrounding nations. Making their own choice to depend on men was the great weakness that made Israel weak, and its end was seen in the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the nation.
Warning Against Worldly Trust
Israel's course in demanding a king revealed self-confidence and lack of humility, a turning from trust in the Lord God of Israel as Ruler of His people to confidence in self and in men and in human judgment and human rule. That history of folly and sin in Samuel's day is written for the admonition of God's people upon whom the ends of the world are come, as a warning lest they repeat those errors. The same folly of relying on human rule, on people, and on one's own judgment rather than trusting God will be repeated among God's people today unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self, and more trust in the Lord. It warns them to be humble, to distrust their own judgment, and to depend on the Lord through prayer.
God's people must not follow worldlings and must not depend on men for strength and influence, heeding the voice of God instead. They must not set God aside as insufficient by resorting to worldly men for recognition and influence in order to do a great work, dishonoring Him by failing to appreciate His sufficiency and choosing to be guided by visible human power rather than by the divine, invisible power that had led them and given them victory in battle. That leaving of first love exchanges God's management, rule, jurisdiction, blessing and safety for unsanctified human judgment and worldly policy, laying plans that have not entered into the mind of God and separating His work from His leading and control through spiritual blindness. Renouncing the divine theocracy in order to be like the other nations takes one out of the hands of God and puts one under worldly, fashionable influence in an effort to raise oneself, which instead lowers influence, reveals inability to comprehend spiritual things, and imperils the work of God.
Standing the test requires divine power combined with human effort, leaning no longer on men or on human judgment but making God the trust. Those who do this will talk less and pray much more, showing meekness of spirit, caution in plans and movements, revealed dependence on God, and the mind of Christ. That trust is further evidenced by love, Christian politeness and courtesy, great caution, a firm platform of solid uncontaminated principle, and the mind of Christ. Human ability and wisdom are only derived from God, for God has underived wisdom, He is infinite while man is finite and erring, and He is the Fountain of light and life and glory. Minds and talents are given only in trust on trial to prove whether men will work in His way and do His will and not put confidence in themselves alone, and no confidence can be put in human ability unless divine power cooperates with the human through men who are teachable, humble, unselfish, and sanctified.
The church will make shipwreck amid the perils of the last days like a vessel sunk by one leak unless the holy Captain of salvation serves not only as Captain but Pilot. Every man in sacred office must inquire at every step if it is the way of the Lord, look constantly to Jesus for guidance, and maintain principle at any cost. For it is not what finite men can do but what God can do through finite men who are teachable, humble, unselfish, and sanctified, and if they do not stand the test with too much self-confidence, self-sufficiency, pride of heart and self-esteem without giving glory to God, they are false to His kingdom.
When the elders asked for a king to judge them, Samuel was displeased, distressed and deeply wounded in soul, and he kept his hurt to himself and took the matter to the Lord in prayer to seek counsel from Him. Their demand was not a rejection of Samuel the man but a rejection of God that He should not reign over them, though He was already their King who had appointed their judges and settled their difficulties. They wanted a king like all the nations in order to be like them and to be guided by visible human power they could see rather than by the divine, invisible power and theocracy that had led them until then. The Lord had plainly told them through Samuel that a king was not the right and best way, but He permitted them to have their own way and granted the desire of their unsanctified hearts while warning them of the trouble and consequences that would come. Israel's course revealed too much confidence in self and in men and human judgment instead of trust in the Lord God of Israel as Ruler, and its history is written for the admonition of God's people upon whom the ends of the world are come, lest the same folly be repeated today.
Samuel's Grief and Prayer
The elders' words, give us a king to judge us, displeased Samuel, distressed him, grieved him, and deeply wounded him in distress of soul. The displeasure arose when Israel demanded a king to judge them like all the nations.
He understood the demand as a censure upon his own leadership and a direct effort to set him aside and discard him before God had released him. The people themselves said they found no fault with his administration, pointing only to his age and to the untrustworthiness of his sons.
He made no reproach and did not reveal his feelings, but kept his hurt to himself. He acted so because he feared a bitter exchange could do great harm.
Instead he took the matter to the Lord in prayer and sought counsel from Him. In answer God directed him to listen to the voice of the people and let their voice decide.
Rejecting God for King
The demand was not a rejection of Samuel the man but a rejection of God that He should not reign over them, though the Lord had appointed the judges over His people and was already their King who supported them and settled their difficulties. God told Samuel that the rejection was ultimately of Himself, not of Samuel, and instructed him to grant the request while warning the people of the consequences that would follow. Their act continued the rebellion carried on since the day God brought them up out of Egypt, wherein they forsook Him and served other gods. It was the same rebellion that left their fathers' dead bodies in the wilderness.
The demand reflected a lack of faith in God's care and a rebellious departure from God as Israel's special leader and Ruler, instead of trusting God to choose rulers and guide them through His prophets whose government He had given. The people wanted a king like all the nations in order to be like them, to be recognized by the world, to be esteemed great in the eyes of surrounding nations, and to make a great display of external prosperity and royal glory. This rejected God's design for them to serve as His distinct people and example to the nations. Their demand grew as they adopted their neighbors' customs, lost reverence for God, and envied the display of heathen kings, while tribal jealousy and internal conflict weakened them against enemies and led them to believe only a strong central government could secure their standing among other nations.
They wanted reformed religion and rule, worldly plans and worldly policy, and to be guided by visible human power they could see rather than by the divine, invisible power and theocracy that had led and guided them until then and had given them victory in battle. Spiritually blind to the fact that God's word was reaching them through Samuel, they wanted divine power and rule visibly embodied in a man, instead of trusting God's unseen guidance and deliverance. Their minds were bent on following their own judgment and casting aside God's judgment, weary of the rule of those who kept before them God's will, God's ways, and God's honor. They coveted the influence of men and dishonored God by failing to appreciate His sufficiency, and Satan worked on their hearts until they were bewitched to follow his counsel even in the face of the prophet's solemn protest.
The demand reflected desire to be free of God's rule as their divine Sovereign, to leave first love and exchange God's management, rule, jurisdiction, blessing and safety for unsanctified human judgment, laying plans that had not entered into the mind of God and separating His work from His leading and control. When the heart is estranged from God, pride and self-love and ambition can find excuses to override His instructions, even at the expense of His cause. They wanted their own way rather than seeking God's counsel about the kind of ruler they needed, valuing royal appearance, courage, and military ability above godliness and justice. God knew an earthly king could claim the honor due to Him, exalt himself, and lead the people into sin, and by his decisions harm the innocent and favor the unworthy unless he trusted God for wisdom.
The Lord had plainly told them through Samuel that a king was not the right way and the best way, but He permitted them to have their own way and granted the desire of their unsanctified hearts, who imagined that a king would bring the most glory to themselves as a nation. He instructed Samuel to grant the request while warning them of the trouble their choice would bring. If judges were untrue to their trust and showed unsanctified hearts trusting finite wisdom, it was the people's privilege to set things in order, but not to throw off the authority of the God of heaven. The demand was a sin whose history is written for the admonition of God's people upon whom the ends of the world are come, calling them not to repeat Israel's course of desiring worldly plans and worldly policy.
The warning was fulfilled when they received a king, for God gave them a king who reflected their own character so they could learn from the consequences and return to allegiance to Him. The king they demanded later proved unable to guide them confidently in battle or inspire their trust in God. They and their king failed to follow God's commands fully, relied on human wisdom, and dishonored God, so He no longer supported them. The contrast between Saul's rule and Samuel's faithful leadership made the mistake plain, for the people had wanted to be like the surrounding nations. Making their own choice to depend on men was the great weakness that made Israel weak, and its end was seen in the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the nation.
Warning Against Worldly Trust
Israel's course in demanding a king revealed self-confidence and lack of humility, a turning from trust in the Lord God of Israel as Ruler of His people to confidence in self and in men and in human judgment and human rule. That history of folly and sin in Samuel's day is written for the admonition of God's people upon whom the ends of the world are come, as a warning lest they repeat those errors. The same folly of relying on human rule, on people, and on one's own judgment rather than trusting God will be repeated among God's people today unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self, and more trust in the Lord. It warns them to be humble, to distrust their own judgment, and to depend on the Lord through prayer.
God's people must not follow worldlings and must not depend on men for strength and influence, heeding the voice of God instead. They must not set God aside as insufficient by resorting to worldly men for recognition and influence in order to do a great work, dishonoring Him by failing to appreciate His sufficiency and choosing to be guided by visible human power rather than by the divine, invisible power that had led them and given them victory in battle. That leaving of first love exchanges God's management, rule, jurisdiction, blessing and safety for unsanctified human judgment and worldly policy, laying plans that have not entered into the mind of God and separating His work from His leading and control through spiritual blindness. Renouncing the divine theocracy in order to be like the other nations takes one out of the hands of God and puts one under worldly, fashionable influence in an effort to raise oneself, which instead lowers influence, reveals inability to comprehend spiritual things, and imperils the work of God.
Standing the test requires divine power combined with human effort, leaning no longer on men or on human judgment but making God the trust. Those who do this will talk less and pray much more, showing meekness of spirit, caution in plans and movements, revealed dependence on God, and the mind of Christ. That trust is further evidenced by love, Christian politeness and courtesy, great caution, a firm platform of solid uncontaminated principle, and the mind of Christ. Human ability and wisdom are only derived from God, for God has underived wisdom, He is infinite while man is finite and erring, and He is the Fountain of light and life and glory. Minds and talents are given only in trust on trial to prove whether men will work in His way and do His will and not put confidence in themselves alone, and no confidence can be put in human ability unless divine power cooperates with the human through men who are teachable, humble, unselfish, and sanctified.
The church will make shipwreck amid the perils of the last days like a vessel sunk by one leak unless the holy Captain of salvation serves not only as Captain but Pilot. Every man in sacred office must inquire at every step if it is the way of the Lord, look constantly to Jesus for guidance, and maintain principle at any cost. For it is not what finite men can do but what God can do through finite men who are teachable, humble, unselfish, and sanctified, and if they do not stand the test with too much self-confidence, self-sufficiency, pride of heart and self-esteem without giving glory to God, they are false to His kingdom.