1 Samuel 8
ISRAEL, like many others, knew not when they were well off.
This is made evident by their desire for a king. Samuel, the prophet and man of prayer had been the link between the Lord and His people. But now “all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel, unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Sam. 8). Cold ingratitude marks this speech. There is no expression of thankfulness for what Samuel had done, and he had done much, and prayed much, for them.
True he had become old, but he had grown old in service for them. It was also a fact that his sons had not turned out well, but it is plain that this complaint was but an excuse to reject the Lord and to become like other nations in possessing a king.
Samuel felt this, but found his solace and strength in prayer. “And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.” He knew where, and to whom to look:
“Ah, whither could we flee for aid
When tempted, desolate, dismayed?
Or how the hosts of hell defeat,
Had suffering saints no mercy-seat?”
Jehovah was not unmindful of all this either. He says to His servant, “Hearken unto 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” (vs. 7). This leaven of independency had been working ever since leaving Egypt, and Israel had more or less been upon the downward grade.
Idolatry allowed must end in rejection of the Lord, though Israel, maybe, would not own to having rejected Him. It would have been better for them to have admitted it; but they had gone too far for that, as Jeremiah sadly says, “I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle” (Jer. 8:66I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. (Jeremiah 8:6)). Not only is God sinned against, but there is no repentance, no saying, “What have I done?” though He always meets the repentant with forgiveness. “Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of My people recovered?” (Jer. 8:2222Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? (Jeremiah 8:22)).
Samuel explains and reasons. He tells them that a king would take from them more than he would give. His expostulation is, however, of no avail. These people had made up their minds, saying, “Nay! but we will have a king over us, that we may also be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out bore us and fight our battles.” Here observe that the Lord permits that which He does not appoint, nor indeed approve; and elsewhere we learn that He “gave them what they requested, but sent leanness into their souls” (Psa. 106:1515And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. (Psalm 106:15)).
God in His wisdom often allows people to have what they in their self-will desire, but to their own sorrow and chastening. To one who knows this, there is an awful significance in the words, “Hearken unto their voices, and make them a king.” Self-will is blinding, and it is a most serious matter when God allows a people or an individual to have his own way. What becomes of Ephraim when He says, “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone;” also, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 19:1212The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favor is as dew upon the grass. (Proverbs 19:12)).
The truth is, Israel wanted to be like other nations, they did not appreciate being “a peculiar people, a holy nation, a chosen generation.” “Why should there be such a distinction?” says the devil. “Separation from evil brings reproach,” and Christians sometimes like to avoid singularity. Where is the salt of the earth? where the light of the world? Too often the light is placed beneath the bushel (business) or beneath the couch (self-indulgence), and the salt loses its savor.
This desire on the part of Israel to be like other nations, shows distance from Him, and no appreciation of their privileged position as His chosen people.
And well indeed might He say, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.”
Israel’s power, dignity, and superiority were attached to their being unlike the nations surrounding them. How often had the Lord appeared for their deliverance! had thundered upon their foes, and that too in answer to Samuel’s prayer — he whom they were now treating so meanly. (See 1 Sam. 7)
Their faith had waned — in fine, they had rejected the Lord!
W. R. C.