Untitled Sermon (2)

1 Samuel 8:1–11 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then 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. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of 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. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

1 Samuel 8:18–20 KJV 1900

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have 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.

1 - Eli was not Samuel’s father, but he was the man who raised him and his ways the good and the bad passed on to Samuel.

It’s hard to parent well when you don’t have a good example. These two men were obedient men of God, yet they didn’t raise their own sons well and their sons paid the price for it.

2 - The commentary says he decided to appoint his sons as judges. I don’t see anywhere in there where it was God’s choice, which was is biggest mistake.

4 - Voting without prayer can be a dangerous thing.

6 - Samuel was not happy, to him their request was evil.

8 - After all God had done for them, they still had not learned, that to follow the people around them would get them in trouble.

10 - Samuel warned them, alright, you’re going to get your king, but when you find out how bad it’s going to be you’re going to cry out to God and He won’t hear you or listen to you.

11 - The people made some assumptions about the unknown person who would be king. It’s not good to assume, especially when you’re dealing with a person.

Leaders can cause people to make bad decisions and take their circumstances from bad to worse. Always preface your decision making with prayer, then listen for God’s answer and when he speaks, follow his instructions.