By 1 Samuel 8 the young boy called by God in chapter 3 has grown old and seeks to transfer his judicial responsibilities to his sons. Unfortunately, though Samuel is contrasted (favourably) in many ways to Eli, like Eli, his sons are wayward and wicked. In chapter 2, God rejects Eli’s sons; in chapter 8, Israel rejects Samuel’s. The elders of Israel then make a request: “Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations. (8:4)” The request clearly did not sit right with Samuel, for he takes it to the Lord in prayer.
Is Samuel taking this personally, a repudiation of his service as well as his sons? After all, did the Lord not promise a throne over Israel? God told Abraham, “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you (Genesis 17:6).” To Jacob he said, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body (Gen 35:11).” In Deuteronomy 17, God lays out instructions for future kings, kings the Lord would place over them. Yet, from the Lord’s response to Samuel’s prayer we can see that Samuel was right to be concerned.
And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them” (8:7-9)
Something to See:
Evidently, it was not the kingship in itself that was the primary concern but the nation’s heart condition. God says plainly: “they have rejected me from being king over them.” They desired a king “like the other nations.” As a result, they got the kind of king other nations desired: someone of wealth, looks, and stature (see 9:1-2). They cried for someone who would judge, rule, and lead them in battle (8:20). But they had the greatest King, Yahwey, already doing this for them! Their historical pattern of idolatry continues to plague the nation. Though they would not have admitted it explicitly, their courting of other gods and the clamour to be like other nations, betrayed their idolatrous hearts. It is important we recognize this in our own hearts. The moment we place hope and trust in any thing or person besides God, implies that in some way we reject God.