Blogging Through The Books of Samuel: 1 Samuel 8

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to 1 Samuel 8! :) Let's SOAP and dig deeper into this chapter!

Scripture:

"So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
~1 Samuel 8:4-5

Observation:

1 Samuel 8 signals a change in 1 Samuel. Previously, in both 1 Samuel and even Judges, either prophets or judges were the spiritual leaders of Israel. When the Israelites needed help in say, a battle, they would call on God and he would help them in undeniably wonderful ways. (Remember yesterday??) 

But in 1 Samuel 8, we see a shift. The Israelites, unhappy with the current God-given government, come to Samuel and ask for a king. Samuel's appalled, but after consulting with the Lord, Samuel consents to give the Israelites a king.

Application:

The part that really got under my skin today was how the Israelites wanted a king "such as all the other nations have." Why in the world would they want that? God-their True King-had never failed them. In fact, God had totally subdued the Philistines for Israel (see 1 Samuel 7). God had set the Israelite nation apart, as an example to the rest of the then-known world, to show who God was. They were to be uniquely different...and now they ask for a king so they won't stand out. ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Well, you know my thoughts on that subject now. The lesson I got was this: don't try to conform into the pattern of this world. Be unique. Be God's chosen child, and be proud of the fact that you have God. There's a Bible verse that goes along with this point very nicely, and it's found in Romans 12:2--

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

I urge you all today: don't conform to the world. Instead, do what God wants you to do.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this chapter. Please help me to remember these lessons, and especially to not conform to the world. Help me to do and be what you would want me to do and be, even if that means doing something radically different from what the world tells me to do. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.