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1SAMUEL
CHAPTER 8

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Here we see something that all too often happens with Christians today. Samuel was a good servant of God, but his children did not follow him in his walk with God.
Possibly, Samuel fell to the same problem as Eli, and did not discipline his children correctly. However, there is every bit as much possibility that he DID discipline them, and they simply would not follow the Lord as they should.
The Bible TELLS us that Eli warned his sons, and didn't discipline them. But the Bible does not say this about Samuel.
Parental dedication is necessary to the rearing of children, but children also must take the initiative and determine within themselves to follow parental guidance.
It is a disgrace to the child when they have godly parental guidance and do not follow in righteousness.
Samuel succeeded in getting his sons to be judge in one area of Israel, but their corruption became a genuine concern to the elders of Israel.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 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. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

The elders approached Samuel and confronted him about his children, but didn't give him an opportunity to discipline them. Instead they asked for a king to be appointed.
Now, here, I might part company with some other people. I firmly believe that the problem with his sons "displeased" Samuel.
You see, Samuel's character would demand that he see to the improprieties of his children. But these elders didn't give him that opportunity.
And I believe what really "displeased" Samuel was his spiritual perception of the FUTURE of a dictatorial government. Samuel, being the godly man that he was, realized that the people were now refusing PROPHETIC leadership and requestiong GOVERNMENTAL leadership in its place!
We do need a form of government to be an authoritative deterrent to evil. However, prophetic leadership should take precedence in all areas of guiding the country. And for prophetic leadership to take the forefront, the PEOPLE must realize the need!
Notice the first thing that Samuel did when he was "displeased:" he PRAYED! Oh! That Christians would follow this example today! So often when Christians of today are "displeased" they become angry and propel sharp retorts (and sometimes worse).

7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

God confirms Samuel's spiritual perception. God tells Samuel that the people have not rejected Samuel's leadership. What they actually have done is reject GOD'S leadership.
For some 400 years now, God has been leading the nation through "judges" - men of prophetic leadership; men in touch with God.
Some of those men didn't have such good character, and some of them made mistakes in judgment. But God has "delivered" Israel through them all. They are a free nation, and do not have the encumbering weight of governmental laws and restrictions. They only have God's laws.
It's kinda like America was before the "white man" came. There was no central government interference, no taxes and women did all the work. How can you improve on that? (he he)
God reminds Samuel that Israel has always been a rebellious people and have acted in the same manner against Him since He saved them from Egypt. Could it be that this is a nationality trait, and that God knew even then that this would lead to the crucifiction of Messiah?
Notice that God says they "served other gods." When a people replace God's leadership with government, it is IDOLATRY!
What's really interesting here is the way God tells Samuel what to do. He is to allow Israel to do as they wish! Sometimes God lets us have what we want out of His indignation (see Hosea 13:10-11).
And when we get what we want (outside of God's will) it usually becomes an unhealing sore!
God told Samuel to be sure and explain to the people all the difficulties they would face under a king.
When people allow government to take preimminence, then the PEOPLE are going to SUFFER! This is why our forefathers developed a government designed to accomodate a godly people. And, as we have seen over the last century, this government (in America) can really not function properly under the leadership of people who are not given to Christ.

10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 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. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18 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.

Something we seldom think about is what government does TO the people in order to be of benefit for the people. Here is a list of things government does TO the people:
1) Conscription of young men (verse 11) for services to government,
2) A bureacratic heirarchy (verse 12),
3) Conscription of young women (verse 13),
4) Conficsation of private land for public domain (verse 14),
5) Taxation (verse 15),
6) Overriding authority of private entrepreneurs (verse 17),
7) FURTHER taxation (verse 17),
((Once it starts, there's no END.))

Samuel assures the people (verse 18) they will "cry out" to God when the fullness of realization hits them about government; but, God will not LISTEN!
Alexander Hamilton once explained why government was formed. He said, "..Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint..."
ALL of us, ALL human beings are sinners and subject more to our own passions than to right reasoning. That's why we NEED some form of government. However, government should be balanced, not dictatorial. And, that balance should be achieved by employing the services of men and women who will FIRST follow GOD'S direction in the rule of government.

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; 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 rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

The people refused to listen to the detrimental aspects of governmental authority. Note their desire to "conform" to the WORLD (verse 20).
Samuel talked to God about the desires of the people, and God said to go ahead with setting up the government.
Then Samuel sent the people home, so that the Lord could talk. Samuel wanted no other direction on the king to be chosen than GOD'S direction!
THIS is the way to approach government! Seeking GOD'S direction!

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