The Allure Of Worldly Conformity.

THE ALLURE OF WORLDLY CONFORMITY.

1 Samuel 8:4-20, 1 Samuel 11:14-15.

Samuel appointed his two sons to be judges in Beersheba in the south of Israel, but ‘his sons walked not in his ways’ and ‘took bribes and perverted judgement (1 Samuel 8:1-3).

On account of this, the elders of Israel “gathered themselves together” to Ramah, and approached Samuel with

(i) a legitimate complaint: “Behold, you are old, and your sons walk not in your ways,” and

(ii) an unreasonable demand: “now make us a king to judge over us LIKE ALL THE NATIONS” (1 SAMUEL 8:4-5).

Now, it was not unreasonable for the elders to approach Samuel on this matter, but what was wrong was that they had already decided what should done. They had their worries about the future, but were proposing a solution which they had not fully thought through. And they had an unhealthy desire to conform to the ways of the world (cf. Romans 12:2).

With hindsight we might comment that the LORD had always intended that Israel should have a king (cf. Deuteronomy 17:14-15). But He also warned of the potential excesses of such an arrangement (cf. Deuteronomy 17:16-20). This is a matter which the LORD takes up again with these elders later in our present passage (cf. 1 SAMUEL 8:11-17).

Samuel was “displeased” with this demand, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel had functioned as prophet, priest and judge, and now they seemed to be pushing him aside for an alternative form of government. “And Samuel prayed unto the LORD” (1 SAMUEL 8:6).

The LORD instructed Samuel to “Hearken unto the voice of the people;” and reassured him that “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should reign over them!” He went on to complain of their continual waywardness and ingratitude, in effect, ‘from Egypt until now:’ “They have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they even unto thee” (1 SAMUEL 8:7-8).

So the LORD reiterated, “Now, therefore, hearken unto their voice, but protest solemnly and show unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” And “Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked him for a king” (1 SAMUEL 8:9-10).

The elders had complained to Samuel that his sons did not follow in his way, so now the LORD now told them of “the manner” – literally, “the way” of their proposed king – as we have mentioned already (1 SAMUEL 8:11-17). Now the LORD warned them that, if they persisted in having their own way, they would not have the right to complain to Him (1 SAMUEL 8:18)!

It is a mistake to imagine that, just because the majority of our political leaders think a thing is correct, that therefore it must be right course of action for the present time. Likewise, it is wrong to imagine that, just because the majority of our citizens think that something - something, for example, that the Bible censures – that that thing is okay, and that all those who stand up for God’s truth are in the wrong! However, God allows certain things, and we are left to face the consequences of our collective wrong decisions!

“Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel,” and persisted, “Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we might be like all the nations” (1 SAMUEL 8:19-20). Yes, the people had rejected Samuel, as he suspected, and sought for themselves a warrior judge to replace him.

It only remained for Samuel to report to the LORD, who echoed His command “Hearken unto their voice” – to which He now added “and make them a king” (1 Samuel 8:21-22).

The final part of today’s reading fast-forwards through the initial call and appointment of Saul as the first king of Israel, and his proving of himself in battle, to the re-dedication of the kingdom to the Kingship of the LORD (1 SAMUEL 11:14-15). God’s people need to submit themselves to the leadership of those whom the LORD has first appointed, and then to acknowledge their assent to the leadership of those individuals.