1 Samuel 8 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Sam 8:1-9

1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, ‘You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.’

6 But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.’

A. Find Out:

1. Why did Samuel appoint his sons as judges? v.1
2. What did they do? v.3
3. What did this prompt the elders to do? v.4,5
4. What did Samuel do? v.6
5. What did the Lord say Israel were doing? v.7,8
6. What did He tell Samuel to do? v.9

B. Think:

1. What lesson has Samuel sadly not learnt from Eli?
2. How does this reveal the hearts of Israel ?
3. What does this teach us about the reasons people sometimes put  forward for their behaviour?

C. Comment:

     Many years have passed with Samuel as judge. He has done a good job judging the people but that is all. It is obvious that the spiritual state of Israel has not improved much under his leadership. As he moves into old age, Samuel sadly “keeps the job in the family” and unwisely appoints his sons to carry on. Unfortunately he obviously doesn’t know his sons very well or chooses to ignore what he does know. They are not up to the job and soon abuse their positions.

      Here we should be careful to note that it doesn’t cause the people to turn away from God, but it simply exposes their hearts, as they come to Samuel to demand a king to replace these unworthy judges.  Such situations rarely change a person’s heart but simply show what is in it. The Lord reveals the truth to Samuel when Samuel prays (please note the order) but does not refuse them their request, even though it is second best. Having the Lord as their king was best but the Lord knows how their hearts are set and allows them to follow this path, to reveal more of His grace and more of the foolishness of man’s sin. Meditate on this terrible truth – God allows us to continue in our paths of folly!

D. Application?

1. Spiritual jobs should be done by spiritual people chosen by God.
2. The heart is set and situations simply reveal the condition of it.

Passage: 1 Sam 8:9-22

9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.’

10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: he will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[f] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.’

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. 20 Then we shall be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.’

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, ‘Listen to them and give them a king.’

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, ‘Everyone go back to your own town.’

A. Find Out:

1. What did God say Samuel should do? v.9
2. How often does “he will take” occur? v.11-17
3. What will Israel then do? v.18
4. But what was the people’s response? v.19
5. Who did they want to be like? v.20
6. What did the Lord then tell Samuel? v.22

B. Think:

1. What sort of a life are Israel being warned about under a king?
2. What is at the heart of Israel ‘s desire?
3. What warning is in this passage about God’s response when we are going our way?

C. Comment:

     First note the Lord’s SOLEMN WARNING. He wants the people to be quite clear about the consequences of their actions. If they want a king like other countries, they must realise he’ll do the same worldly things – he’ll take!  He’ll form an army and take their sons; he’ll want a royal retinue, so he’ll take their daughters; he’ll want provision for his court, so he’ll take their food. When all that happens, they’ll realise how well off they were previously and cry out for relief – too late!

     Second note, Israel ‘s WILFUL RESISTANCE. Despite this wise warning, they persist in demanding to be like other people. God is not enough for them! This is both unbelief and rebellion.

     Finally, note GOD’S AGREEMENT. This is clearly not the best for Israel, but it is what they want so God gives it to them, perhaps more by way of discipline for their foolishness than anything else. Never be foolish enough to say, “God will stop me if I make a wrong decision”. God gives us the privilege of self-will and so if we determine, against God’s counsel through word and Spirit, to go our own way, He will let us. It may be painful, but we have to learn the hard way sometimes!

D. Application?

1. Most people DO know God’s will, they just choose to ignore it.
2. God’s love includes His discipline. (Hebrews 12:6)