Israel Asks for a King. As God permitted Israel to have a king, he allowed the temple to be built, but it was never his will. Samuel was their judge, and that was the system of rule at the time. You are probably familiar with Samuel's successor, King David, referred to by God as "A man after my own heart". The people of Israel admired and respected Samuel, but he was getting old; and they did not want to be governed by his sons, who had a terrible reputation. Verses 10-18 record what God told Samuel to communicate to Israel that they would experience with their new king. [] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba() 3 But his sons did not follow his waysThey turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.. 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. This desire was not new. Someday they would be sorry, but they would have to learn that the hard way. And his line of kings was no all-star lineup. Chapters 9 and 10 describe the process by which God revealed the identity of Israel’s king. 8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. Despite God’s warnings, they were adamant — enough with this judge stuff; give us a king! But the time would come when Israel would be so persistent in their demand for a king that God would let them have their will. The King the People Wanted. God does not prevent us from sinning, and He does not force us to live righteously. God didn't want Israel to have a king because he was their king, but since the people longed for one, He had his prophet Samuel anoint a man named Saul as the first king of Israel. And God fulfils himself in many ways, Lest one good custom should corrupt the world" (Tennyson) Introductory. So God gave them their hearts’ desire in King Saul. (See Deuteronomy 12:31.) - The desire of Israel for a king, as expressed by their elders to Samuel,was a turning point in their history. He was their leader. For now, though, God would not just turn his people over to another human being, even if he were a king. Even an attempt to rebuild it in 363 and it is reported that fire erupted from the earth beneath the site killing those doing the work. King: a ruler who answers to no one Lesson Outline Lesson Text Israel wanted a king. It existed long before (Judges 8:22; Judges 9:9). Subsequent monarchy in Israel, especially that of the house of David, was divinely intended to point to the incarnation when Israel’s God became flesh, and was born into the royal line of King David, thus reasserting the LORD’s rights as not only the Lord of Israel, but also as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Chapter 10:17-27 records the process by which God publicly identified Saul to the Israelites as their king. God had previously said in Deuteronomy 17 that the time would come when Israel would have a king, so their wanting a king is not the issue. Additionally, not only did God use Israel’s might to punish evil nations like these, He used the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Egyptian kings to punish Israel. When the Israelites wanted a king like other nations had, they were rejecting their unique, set-apart position as God’s people. 1 Samuel 8:9-18 In I Samuel 8:9-18, God strongly forewarns Israel about the painful future they were creating for themselves by desiring a king to rule over them. They were turning against God himself instead of Samuel. 1. In 1 Samuel 8, Israel wants to install a king to make them like other nations. God will often use human forces to mete out His discipline. Another reason it was wrong to ask for a king is that the Israelites did so in order to be like “all the other nations.” God had created Israel as a unique people. 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