As we look at this chapter of 1 Samuel today, there unfolds a scene that can be applied to discussing the goal of churches today. What is the vision of some churches? Do churches think in a Christ-centered manner, or do they think in a worldly manner? What I mean is this: Are churches today preaching God’s word accurately, are they witnessing faithfully, are they attracting people to the church by showing the love of Christ, and are they patiently seeking and awaiting God’s direction for the church? If not, then a congregation can easily become concerned with what the church down the road is doing; and might be compromising the gospel in some form or another for the sake of publicity.
1 Samuel chapter 8 shares the story of a church that is overly concerned with what the church down the road is doing. The pastor (which is Samuel) tries to lead this church (which is Israel) according to God’s will, but the congregation won’t listen and heed his counsel. The people only see what the other churches (or other nations) are doing; and therefore, they end up usurping the leadership from Samuel, and doing what is right in their own eyes. As we will see, they wind up going against God’s will, resulting in strife and hardship for many generations.
Wanting to Be Like Others (vv. 1-5)
1 Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
As Samuel became old, he made his sons to judge Israel, but they turned out to be dishonest. In verses 4-5, we learn how the elders came to Samuel and complained about the corruptness of his sons. Yes, it was true that Samuel’s sons did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but the Israelites used this excuse as an opportunity to reject the notion of having a spiritual leader. Something that clues us in to the fact that they were making excuses is how they also informed Samuel that he was “old.” They were saying that he was just too old to lead them anymore.
Back in chapters 4-5, when Samuel was young, we see an example of how the Israelites refused to consult Samuel’s advice, thinking they knew better. The people and the elders “reasoned” among themselves that they should take the Ark of the Covenant into battle; and therefore, that’s what they did, trying to defeat the Philistines without the Lord’s sanction. What happened was that the Israelites were the ones who were defeated, and the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant.
Commentator Matthew Henry says about this scene, in chapters 4-5, that “had they consulted [Samuel] . . . his counsel might have stood them in more stead than the presence of the ark did; but perhaps the princes of Israel despised his youth.”(1) So, earlier, the Israelites refused to listen to Samuel because they thought he was too young to lead. Now, they were using the excuse that he was too old to lead; he was just too senile. The Israelites said that Samuel was unqualified to lead them because of his age, young or old; however, his age was always an excuse to do their own thing.
Referring to age, especially to youth, Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, [and] in purity.” Let no one despise whatever age a spiritual leader may be; young or old.
The heart of the matter is that the Israelites didn’t really want a spiritual leader. They wanted to put their trust in the ways and methods of man. Verse 5 reveals how they desired a king. The Israelites wanted a king to reign over them, because they felt that a king was capable of leading them in great military victories, and was more capable in protecting their nation than a prophet or judge.
The Israelites assumed that Samuel was not well-aquatinted with the ways of the world, like military leadership, battle, or combat. He was their spiritual leader, but he wasn’t politically known or popular among the people. To the Israelites, his spiritual leadership was not enough to protect them. They didn’t see Samuel standing firm over their enemies. To them he was useless, because he did not strike fear in the hearts of men; he was just a wimpy old prophet.
In verse 5, the Israelites said they wanted a king so that they could be “like all the nations.” The other nations were ungodly, but they didn’t care. They observed how the other nations were powerful, and they believed that a king could give them this same power; but not Samuel. They wanted to be “like all the nations.” In other words, they wanted to follow the crowd.
This situation is similar to churches who observe the growth of other churches, and then try to emulate and implement whatever approach these other churches are taking, whether their methods are biblical or not. They attempt to mimic the others; thereby, going along with the crowd.
Emulation is the principle behind church growth conferences. I was invited just this week to attend one, so I went online to see who was speaking. I had never heard of him before, but when I researched his credentials and read his personal website that he had made about himself, I was unimpressed. He spoke mainly about his accomplishments as a tri-athlete and as a successful CEO and leader in the business world. He then spoke of how he applied his business skills to ministry to revitalize a church. I had just finished preparing to teach a lesson from Experiencing God, and a section that I had read came to mind as I looked at this speaker’s profile. Let me read for you what the author of Experiencing God said. Henry Blackaby stated:
“Don’t measure your life by the world’s standards. Many denominations are doing it. Many pastors and staff leaders are doing it. Many churches are doing it. Think about it. By the world’s standards, a person or church may look pretty good, yet in God’s sight be utterly detestable. Similarly, a person or church may be wholly yielded to Him and very pleasing to Him and in the world’s eyes be insignificant . . . An ordinary person is who God most likes to use. Paul said God deliberately seeks out the weak things and the despised things because it is from them that He can receive the greatest glory (1 Cor. 1:26-31). Then everyone will know that only God could have done it” (p. 25).
When I look for a conference to attend, I want to sit under someone who went from ordinary to extraordinary solely by the power of God, as he was wholly dependent on the Lord for his strength. I don’t want to hear a man brag about how he used his wits and talents to do great things for God; and I’ve seen this way too many times.
There’s a bumper sticker that reads: “Don’t follow me. I’m lost too.” You see, motion does not always mean purpose, and success does not always mean sanction – sanction by God, that is. Be very careful if you follow the crowd, for they may not know where they are going.(2) You do not want to be steered away from the Lord’s purpose and plan for the church by trying to emulate the success of others, which may turn out to be a worldly success.
They Have Rejected the Lord (vv. 6-9)
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day – with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods – so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
Verse 6 says, “The thing displeased Samuel.” He must have been hurt that the people refused to listen to him or have him as their spiritual leader. He probably felt old and ineffective. That was just the excuse of the people, though. The Lord informed Samuel, in verse 7, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” Samuel didn’t need to take it personally, for it wasn’t about him; it was about their refusal to be governed by Almighty God.
It’s interesting to see how God told Samuel to do exactly what the people asked. Samuel knew it was wrong, and the Lord knew it was wrong, but God pretty much said, “Israel has always disobeyed Me. Therefore, I will let the people have their own way, so they will come to realize that only My way is right.” The Israelites needed a chance to learn from experience; they needed to feel the bite of their sin.
In verse 9, the Lord commanded Samuel to forewarn them of what will happen should they continue in their own way. God wanted Samuel to allow the people to do what they desired, but He didn’t want Samuel to stop preaching to them. Samuel’s warning was to serve as a constant reminder to them when things eventually fell apart.
Samuel Warned the Israelites (vv. 10-18)
10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”
This set of verses shows Samuel’s prophetic warning to Israel concerning the qualities of the king they would select. The king would rule according to his own selfish motives, rather than God’s will; and he would take whatever he desired from the people. If Israel rejected having a spiritual leader, then the people would eventually regret it and come to a place where they would cry out to the Lord. God said that He would refuse to hear them in the day that they called on Him. The king that the prophecy was referring to was Saul, but he wouldn’t be the only harsh king.
Years later, after the rule of King Saul and King David, the people were forced into hard labor under King Solomon and his son Rehoboam. When Rehoboam became king, the people approached him, saying, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you” (1 Kings 12:4). Rehoboam replied, “My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” (1 Kings 12:10-11).
The Lord Gave Them Over (vv. 19-22)
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 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.” 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord. 22 So the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”
We see here from these verses that Israel refused to retain a spiritual leader. The people insisted on having a king so that they could be like all the other nations, and so that they could have a powerful leader in order that they might conquer and avenge themselves in battle.
The Lord instructed Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” God told Samuel to listen to the majority. Whatever the result of the vote might be; let them do what they please. Let them see that they’re wrong. Let them see that they really do need the Lord’s guidance and protection.
Harry Truman commented on the detriment of popular opinion to leadership, saying, “I wonder how far Moses would have gone if he’d taken a poll in Egypt? What would Jesus Christ have preached if he’d taken a poll in Israel? Where would the Reformation have gone if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn’t the polls or public opinion of the moment that counts. It is right and wrong and leadership – men with fortitude, honesty, and a belief in the right – that makes epochs in the history of the world.”(3)
Israel was wrong in comparing itself to other nations. The people were wrong in desiring to be just like them. They insisted on having a king like all the other nations, though, and they refused to budge on the matter; therefore, God said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” In other words, the Lord gave them over to their sinful desires.
Time of Reflection
From this chapter in Israel’s history, we have seen how congregations can sometimes become overly concerned with what others are doing. The bottom line is that we, as a church, need to focus entirely on God’s will for this individual congregation. If we strive to become that which we are not, then we are no better than Israel who sought a worldly king over having a spiritual leader.
Ecclesiastes provides some good advice to churches, concerning waiting on the Lord’s timing: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven . . . A time to break down, and a time to build up . . . A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones . . . A time to keep, and a time to throw away” (3:1, 3b, 5a, 6b). There’s a time for making changes, but we need to wait on God; and trust that He will convey His specific plan and purpose for this church in His perfect timing.
Now, when it comes to timing, there’s no better time than now to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Paul shared with us in 2 Corinthians 6:2, of how the Lord declares, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Salvation is not something you can put on the back burner to stew for a while, for we are not guaranteed another minute. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then I invite you to come and know Him today.
NOTES
(1) Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1991.
(2) Michael P. Green, Illustration for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997), 215.
(3) Green, 215.
