Sermon Tone Analysis

We Want a King! - 1 Samuel 8

PRAY & Intro:

I read a book recently (by Todd Wagner - Come & See) with a helpful illustration from the author’s own life of taking his kids to get candy at the store with the change that they saved, offering to hold them up and show them where the good stuff is.

But one daughter insisted on her way down on the bottom shelf and chose a fireball… which he decided to let her have.

The family talks about it to this day as an illustration of trusting in the goodness and the ways of God over our own inclinations.

The People Demand a Human King (vv.

1-5)

The first thing in chapter 8 reminds me of a proverb:

Samuel’s Sons Disappoint

You can imagine Samuel’s disappointment (especially v. 3).

But it does raise the question:

How do we wisely and biblically understand this situation with Samuel’s sons?

What kind of a man is Samuel?

Is his situation similar or distinct from Eli’s?

What level of responsibility does he bear for his sons actions?

(and in giving the Israelites additional fodder for demanding a monarchy….

because we know that becomes their pretext for demanding a king, v. 5a)

Samuel’s character - Our text doesn’t in any way suggest that Samuel is another Eli.

Samuel even named his sons Joel and Abijah - “the Lord is God” and “my Father is the Lord” or “Jehovah is Father”

In fact, Samuel is able to say with a clear conscience in the near future, and the people do not disagree:

To be sure, hereditary judges were not the way that God had been working.

- But they were merely judges “for Israel,” in a southern frontier town of Beersheba, not replacing Samuel or anything of the sort.

(It doesn’t say that they were priests, and certainly no mention is made of them being prophets of God like Samuel.)

That means Samuel couldn’t really have set them up as his replacements.

(What the people in effect ask for does function as a dynasty, so that a king’s sons would rule whether they feared the Lord or not!)

BUT

It must be admitted that Samuel setting his sons up in any leadership role seems to have contributed to the problem, at the very least providing an additional excuse to the people for demanding a king.

Having a human ruler/leader isn’t the problem.

The problem is this: “like all the nations.”

“Like All The Nations”

Their requesting of a king, and in this manner, directly fulfilled prophecy: God said this would happen.

God wasn’t surprised.

But God’s foreknowledge that they would do this doesn’t mean that God approved of the heart motivation

We see that it is exactly this wrong attitude that is the problem.

See how…

Samuel and God Respond (vv.

6-9)

Samuel is getting older, but he isn’t DEAD.

In fact, we find that he has many good years of service left.

Literally the text says “the thing was evil in Samuel’s sight.”

- Samuel knows this is “evil.”

(rather than being personally offended)

Human leaders ought to be the chief servants of the people who are under-shepherds leading people to follow the Lord.

- The king—any ruler in authority—is to be following God, serving the people.

Rejecting Samuel is less a rejection of him than of God. - If that happens to you, take it as a compliment!

Rejecting God as King

This is nothing new and nothing short of idolatry.

- Who is King over Israel?

Who ought to be it’s ruler?

From theocracy to monarchy...

The problem is the rebellion in our hearts against God’s rule.

(How?

What are we doing?) - Just let me have it my way, God, ok?

Do what they ask, but give them full warning.

God is so kind that even in their rejection of his loving authority, he gives them wise warning so that when they experience the consequences for their choice they will know and remember the word of the Lord.

[recap] Israel's problem isn't asking for a king, the problem is foolishly demanding a king instead of waiting for God's timing and direction.

God gives them what they want but offers fair warning about the lesson they will learn about the cost of a human king.

The Cost of a King (vv.

10-18)

The cost of elevating a mere man to kingship.

(supreme ruler)

“He Will Take”

Self-enriching king… “he will take” repeated

How a king rules: “Some of these things were the normal cost of a central, standing administration, but others indicate a predictable abuse of power (see note on 8:14–15).”

-Crossway Bibles.

(2008).

The ESV Study Bible (p.

504).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Fair warning: So that you are without excuse when I do not deliver you from your own king.

(v.

18) - Don’t come crying to me.

(It almost sounds like this, but we know there’s no snarkiness in the heart of God.)

The High Cost of Our Own Way

In what we seem to think is self-enrichment for us! - Satan wants us to overestimate the value of sin, our own wisdom, and so on.

- ‘the cost is high and the ride is short’

Why do we insist on our way?

- Because in our twisted nature we don’t ultimately like charity and grace, and we don’t like relinquishing control and credit (glory) into God’s hands.

It’s just too humbling.

We think if we earn it, it’s ours.

God is good to us beyond our foolishness and offers us a way out, but it will be his way!

But God doesn’t force us, he wants our hearts.

- So here too, as a means of teaching, God will allow them first to have their own way.

The People Get What They Want (vv.

19-22)

In essence, despite the warning, they behave like defiant children.

But we want a king!

To do our judging and fighting… To judge (king’s fundamental responsibility) and to go out before us a fight our battles (military leader).

There is also a neat little insertion about prayer in here that should be a reminder to us: Samuel repeats everything to God… not because God needs to hear from us in order to be informed, but because WE NEED GOD.

(share all our burdens with him… Samuel needs intimacy with God.)

Make them a king.

When God says, ok, you can have it your way, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

- When he knows he’s sovereign to work through these circumstances as well and also teach you a lesson along the way.

What we ultimately need is a perfect King both divine and human:

God does better for us than we know we need or are able to request.

What Should We Want?

Review:

Israel's problem isn't asking for a king, the problem is foolishly demanding a king instead of waiting for God's timing and direction.

God gives them what they want but offers fair warning about the lesson they will learn about the cost of a human king.

Application:

There is a kind of persistence, even in prayer, that isn’t really pious at all.

It’s a persistence to get our own way.

Do we really not want to trust in a God who is good and sovereign, rather than in ourselves and our own wisdom?

Seek God first and trust him to add all that he deems best.

(see Matt. 6:33)