When God is Not King
Read 1 Samuel 8:1-22
“That we also may be like all the nations that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”1 Samuel 8:20
Beware – Power Corrupts!
During the period of conquest, as Joshua was installed as leader, he was warned to be strong and courageous, to meditate on the Word of God day and night, and to be careful to obey all that is written in it. This, God promised, would make his way prosperous and lead to good success (Joshua 1:7-8).
When we lose the ability to discern between light and darkness or good and evil, we begin to blur the lines and make our own judgments (Judges 21:25).
It is heartbreaking to see leaders fall astray. This was the case with Samuel’s sons, who, as judges, did not walk faithfully in God’s ways. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain and perverted justice (1 Samuel 8:3). Even sadder was the response of Israel’s elders, who failed to acknowledge God as their King. They succumbed to worldly desires, demanding a king like the other nations.
Tragedy strikes when the Word of God becomes secondary, and worldly wisdom takes precedence in guiding our thoughts and decisions.
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely!
God had foreseen that when Israel settled in their promised land, they would demand a king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). Through these verses, God outlined His ideal—a king who would lead the nation into a deeper relationship with Him.
However, in 1 Samuel 8, we see a different reality. The elders asked for a king, not to bring them closer to God, but to lead them into battles. They sought someone who embodied worldly power rather than godly leadership. Samuel warned them of the dangers of their choice, highlighting how absolute power can corrupt absolutely.
What Are We Rejecting Today?
Many Christians today unknowingly reject the authority of God’s Word. We neglect to treasure it as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). Instead, we rely on subjective experiences, believing that hearing the "voice of God" is enough. But how can we discern His voice if we are unfamiliar with His Word?
It is time to return to the basics. Churches that prioritize subjective experiences over the foundation of God’s Word risk falling into the same errors as Israel’s elders. Our calling is to emulate the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, who dwells among us. Lord, help us in our moments of desperation to return to You!
Reflection
This passage challenges us to examine where we place our trust and authority. The stories of Joshua, Samuel, and the elders of Israel reveal a recurring theme: when God’s Word is neglected, human desires and ambitions take over, leading to corruption and disobedience.
The warnings are clear. Joshua was instructed to meditate on the Word of God continually, emphasizing its role as the guiding force for success and prosperity. Yet, as the generations passed, the Israelites drifted from this principle. Their desire to conform to worldly standards—demanding a king like other nations—shows how easily we can reject God’s perfect plan for a flawed human one.
Today, this message is more relevant than ever. The temptation to seek worldly solutions or prioritize personal experiences over the truth of Scripture is real. As Christians, we must remember that the Word of God is our foundation. Without it, we lose our way and risk becoming indistinguishable from the world around us.
This reflection is a call to action: to return to God’s Word, to make it central in our lives, and to guard it as our ultimate authority. Let us strive to lead lives that reflect God’s truth, resist the lure of worldly power, and remain steadfast in our commitment to His will.
1 Samuel 8:1-22
8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They 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, “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.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 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. 8 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. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
Samuel's Warning Against Kings
10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of 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 orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men[a] and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
The Lord Grants Israel's Request
19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be 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 when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 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.”