Straying from the Sovereign King
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I. The Problem
I. The Problem
1 Samuel 8:
When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
Notice what has happened, Samuel the prophet has gotten old and has his sons serving as judges over the people of Israel.
The problem was these men were not faithful men of God, they were not serving in order to please God but to please themselves. They did not follow in their follow in their Father’s footsteps instead they followed their own deceitful heart.
Do you see it, they turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. Explain....
II. The People’s Solution
II. The People’s Solution
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
I Samuel 8:
I Samuel 1:
The elders of Israel said, we have these crooked judges who are ruling us unrighteously we must do something. We must have a new ruler. They thought let’s go tell Samuel his sons are evil and not following God’s ways like you did therefore we need to get rid of them and get us a king like all the other nations have!
Do you think Samuel liked that?
This request upset Samuel. He knew this was not God’s plan for the people of Israel.
Do you know why?
Because God was there King! God was the one who cared for them, protected them, and fought for them. He was there ruler. But they were not satisfied.
Notice what Samuel did, He prayed to the Lord.
Samuel understood the people’s sinful request so he asked God what must we do?
III. The Lord’s Provision
III. The Lord’s Provision
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.”
1 Samuel 8:7-
Notice, the Lord agrees to give them what they are asking for. He tells Samuel, don’t think they are rejecting you, but rejecting Me.
The LORD say’s to Samuel, they have forgotten the way I delivered them from Egypt and they have constantly turned to worship other gods. They refuse to trust in the provisions the LORD provides and they keep seeking after other gods. They are idolaters at heart. The people of Israel constantly reject the LORD who has saved them.
In response to that the LORD says, they want a king like the other nations I will give them what they want.
Samuel warns the people of Israel if you get this king you are seeking he will take everything you have. He will take your sons, your horses, your freedom, he will make you his servants instead of being servants of the One True God.
Even after Samuel stern warning,
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
I Samuel 8:19
So guess who was going to be their new king?
Saul the Benjamite. The Scriptures say, Saul was “a handsome young man. There was not a man more handsome than he.”
Now here is the interesting part of the story. Saul was actually out looking for His Father’s donkey’s which were lost. They were about to give up the search worried that his father was going to become concerned about him. But his servant said before we give up let’s go see the man of God and see if he can help us.
Guess who they ran into as the man of God? Samuel. Now in the mean time Samuel had been told by the LORD that he was sending him as man from the land of Benjamin and that he should anoint him king. Samuel told him your donkey’s are safe but come with me I have more to telly you.
In Chapter
Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.
So Samuel let’s Saul know he will be the new king over Israel and reign over all the land.
When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.
In
Even with the Spirit of God upon Samuel we begin to see his weakness in
1 Samuel 10
Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.
Even though Saul was taller than anyone in Israel he was scared to be king. He was so scare he hid among the bags…Now is that the kind of king you want? Do you want a king who is nowhere to be found when trouble comes.
Well due to the lack of time let me get you closer to the end of the story of the successful reign of king Saul. After some success and conquering of other nations Saul began to restore the kingdom of Israel it seemed.
However in,
He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
1 Samuel 13:8
So Saul broke the command of the LORD and offered unauthorized sacrifices that only the priests were authorized to offer. But Saul got scared, he didn’t trust the LORD. He broke the LORD’s commandments in order to protect himself and the people, he thought.
But Samuel tells him, you have messed up… Your kingdom shall not continue, because you have not kept the commands the LORD has given you!
Now it looks like God’s people are in trouble doesn’t it. They failed to trust God, asked for a ruler other than God, God gave them a ruler who failed to rule righteously. So you tell me is this it for the people of God?
No, God would send another king, who was that? King David, he is the one whom God would make a covenant with, promising that someone from his line would always sit on the throne! Even though king David would fall short, his son Solomon would fall short of being the perfect ruler and King, one would come through their line. His name would be??? King Jesus.
Jesus Christ is the perfect King we all need. He is the one who would never fail. Jesus live a perfect life never sinning one time. He would not disobey God’s commandment ever! Even though he was born of no reputation, lived an obscure life, was rejected by his own people (like Samuel). He would die a sinners death that he didn’t deserve. But he would not stay in the grave, after three days he would be raised from the dead, walk among his people for 40 days and then do you know what he did?
He ascended into heaven.
Do you know where he is now?
He is seated on the right hand of the Father.
Do you know what he is doing?
He is ruling and reigning from heaven. He has been give all authority.
Do you know what he is going to do?
One day he is going to get up off of His throne and return to the earth where He will rule and reign forever and ever over the New Heavens and New Earth!
Here is the question for you today? Have you trusted in this King? Have you repented of your sin understanding that your sin has separated you from the King. Jesus call all those who would trust in Him to turn to Him in Faith and Repentance.
He promise whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved. If you have not done that but the LORD has awakened your heart and opened your eyes to see your need for Him call on Him for salvation. If you have questions about the gospel and trusting in Christ talk to your parents or talk to your Pastors about your desire to turn to Christ in faith and repentance so you can know that you are a child of God!
