04.11.2015 Old Testament: 1Sa 8.6–9

To read the Bible in a year, read First Samuel 7–9 on April 11, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

Samuel devoted his life to Israel, but when he made his sons judges to replace him, they did evil things, prompting the people to ask for a king. They failed to see and to acknowledge that the Lord was their king, grieving the heart of Samuel,

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 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. 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. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them” (1 Samuel 8.6–9). 

First, Samuel prayed to the Lord when the people rejected him. Then Samuel received instruction from the Lord, which Samuel followed. The key thing to know is that in rejecting Samuel, they truly rejected the Lord.