Lesson 203 - Senior

Memory Verse

"And he not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).

Cross References

I Perverted Judgement

1. In his old age, Samuel had appointed his sons as judges over Israel, [1SM:8:1-2]; [2CH:19:5-7].

2. Samuel's sons did not walk in the fear of the Lord, [1SM:8:3]; [DEU:16:19]; [ISA:33:14-16]; [1TM:6:10].

3. The elders of Israel used this fact for a pretext to ask for a king, [1SM:8:4-5]; [DEU:17:14-15]; [ACT:13:20-21].

II Samuel's Prayer and God's Answer

1. Samuel had no answer for the elders' displeasing request, so he sought God's counsel, [1SM:8:6]; [EXO:32:30-33]; [EZR:9:3-5]; [LUK:6:12].

2. The answer was returned that the people had rejected God, [1SM:8:7-8]; [EXO:16:8]; [LUK:10:16].

3. Samuel was instructed to grant Israel's request but warn them of the consequences, [1SM:8:9]; [EZE:45:9]; [EZE:46:18].

III The Manner of an Earthly King

1. The King of Heaven ruled with favour; but an earthly king would rule with rigour, [1SM:8:10-18]; [1KG:9:22]; [1KG:12:4], [1KG:12:12-14]; [1KG:21:7], [1KG:21:15].

2. The people refused to hearken to Samuel, but insisted upon having a king, [1SM:8:19-20]; [PS:81:11-12]; [JER:44:16]; [EZE:33:31].

3. The Lord condescended to the request of the people, [1SM:8:21-22]; [HOS:13:9-11].

Notes

Judges

As the years of Samuel's life advanced he probably wondered who would succeed him as judge of Israel. Samuel knew the history of Israel, that many times the spiritual well-being of the people had declined as a faithful judge passed from the scene. The Children of Israel had often lapsed into idolatry until trouble and captivity had come upon them; then they had cried to God for deliverance, and a new judge and deliverer had been raised up for them. Samuel was concerned that this should not happen when his days were fulfilled, so he appointed his sons as judges while he still lived.

No doubt Samuel had taught his sons thoroughly in the matters of the Law and felt that they would do justice to the people. They probably had heard the story from their father's lips of the disastrous end that had come to Eli's sons because they had failed to walk in the ways of the Lord. Samuel must have felt confident that his sons would do the thing that was right and true. How long these sons remained as judges in Beer-sheba is not told; but it was soon evident that they were not walking in the ways of their godly father, but had turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgement.

A King

The elders of Israel seemed to be waiting for this chance to bring about a change in their government. They brought two things to Samuel's attention: that he was growing old, and that his sons walked not in his ways. They could find no flaw in Samuel's life. His character was of sterling quality and he was a pattern that Israel should have been glad to follow. If he was old, he had grown old in service to God and man; if his age prevented him from riding the circuits as he once had, that same age would hold a wealth of experience and wisdom that could not be found elsewhere in the land. Samuel was only about 60 years old at this time " an age that could hardly be termed great enough to prevent him from being useful.

The elders of Israel came with the demand that Samuel make a king for them. They did not seem to take the charge too much to heart that Samuel's sons were taking bribes and perverting judgement. If they had pressed this charge as their only desire, one would feel sure that Samuel would have reduced the authority of his sons. The elders brought up these charges for one reason -" an excuse to ask for a king. The old Prophet, in communion with the God of Heaven, and greatly respected by the majority of the Israelites, was no longer desired by the elders of the people. They wanted a king. They did not specify a righteous king who would rule them better than Samuel's sons had ruled; but they said merely, "Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." Under pretence of making a change for the better, Israel in reality changed something good for something bad. The human family will do this every time when left to their own devices and when following their own counsel. "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). In contrast, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23).

An Unwise Choice

Samuel could see the error of the people's desire, though he probably did not see how far-reaching was that error until he went to God in prayer. The desire for a king meant that the people were asking for the termination of the Theocracy under which they lived. Samuel thought that the people were rejecting him, that they were weary of his judgeship; but the Lord pointed out that the true circumstance was the rejection of Himself. Why would the Children of Israel consider taking themselves out from under God's rulership? Because they could not accustom themselves to the thought of an unseen Monarch, though He had proved Himself strong in their behalf on numerous occasions. The Children of Israel were willing that the government of God be superseded by that of an earthly king, one whom they could see " a poor exchange. They desired a king to go out before them and fight their battles. Had they forgotten the many times that the Lord had fought for them and their fathers, and all that they had had to do was "stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD"?

That same difficulty of living one day at a time with quiet trust and faith in God confronts many Christians today. The great majority of people feel secure when they have the treasures of this world gathered about them; but they place no value upon God's precious promises. A big balance in some temporal bank looks much better to them than any page on the chequebook of faith. They pride themselves on their produce and foresight, when actually they should be ashamed of their distrust of God. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust, doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:19, 20).

Majority or Minority

Another reason that the Children of Israel would have an earthly king to reign over them was that they might be like the other nations around them. An itinerant judge and prophet in a lowly mantle did not compare very favourably with the regal splendours of the haughty kings among the neighbouring nations; therefore the Children of Israel felt they could endure no longer to be singular in this matter. It may be hard, in some ways, to be always in the minority and keep your faith in God, when all around are glittering examples of seeming success that attends the opposite course; but a Christian should keep the final reward in view.

The Christian standard is one, which does not conform to the ways, modes, and fashions of this world. The love of Christ in a man so completely changes the outlook and desires of his heart that he is no longer the same; but "he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17). To keep himself in the love of God, the Christian is commanded: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2:15).

Many people stumble over this separation from the world. They would be happy to welcome Jesus into their hearts if they could continue with the appointments and praises of their worldly friends, but the contempt and taunts of the sinners directed toward the plain ways and manners of the Christian cannot be endured by this class of people. Like the elders of Israel, they want to fit in with the rest of the world. But remember, God does not approve of the ways of the world. He is seeking for people, who are willing to separate themselves from the world.

God's Answer

Samuel had no answer for the Children of Israel when they first presented their petition. Had he denied their request without consulting God, the people could rightly say that Samuel took much authority upon himself. But had he conceded to their wishes without knowing the mind of God, Samuel would have been a betrayer of his trust and an accomplice in the change. Samuel knew the strait that he was in, so he went to God in prayer for the solution of the problem. The answer was not long in coming. God was displeased with the suggestion for an earthly king, but He told Samuel to hearken unto their words, "yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."

Samuel did show the Children of Israel the manner of the king that should reign over them. Instead of the unseen King of Heaven who gave all good and perfect gifts, the people were suing for a king who would receive all gifts and give nothing. Samuel drew the picture of the usual despot who ruled those eastern countries surrounding Palestine during that period. The Children of Israel had to expect that the king would take of their choice sons to be his guards, soldiers, and officers; they had to expect that the king would take their daughters to be cooks and bakers to keep up his lavish appointments; that the king would appropriate the best lands to give to his servants; and that he would subscribe the tenth of their income to himself. More than that, the Lord said that when the Children of Israel would se the error of their choice and cry unto God about it, He would not hear their cry. With reproof of that kind from God, one would think that the Children of Israel would quickly have said, "We will stop right here."

Contending with God

Here we have an example of people in general: they have a desire contrary to the will of the Lord. They persist in that desire, with eyes open to the consequences, until at last the Lord accedes to the demand and allows the request. Just because God permits something, however, is not a sure indication that it is according to His will. A particular thing might be absolutely contrary to God's will; but if He sees a person or persons set upon that thing, He will let them go ahead, just as He did the Prophet Balaam. Balaam was set on having that reward; the Lord finally allowed him to go to the king of Moab, but Balaam never received the reward.

When a person contends with God for some particular thing until the demand is allowed, the thing is not enjoyed even when it is received. "He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul" (Psalm 106:15). The Children of Israel received their request for a king, but the generation that contended did not live long enough to enjoy their king. The first king of Israel was Saul, whose long reign of 40 years was filled with unrest, strife, turmoil, and war. It was not until the reign of David that the land enjoyed its king.

Overruling Providence

"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee" (Psalm 76:10). This is another illustration of how the overruling providence of God takes the works of men, though adverse to His will, and forms them into a tool for His work. God was not ready to give Israel an earthly king at this time, yet God knew that there would be a King David, and that in David's royal line, Jesus Christ our Lord would be the Saviour of the world. Had Israel been willing to bide God's time, they would have received their heart's desire and not incurred God's wrath.

In effect, the men of Jesus' day sent the message after the Son of God, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). The antagonism of the Jews and the Romans sent Jesus to the cross; but once again the wrath of man praised God, for in that day was a "fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1). How sad for those who thus carry out God's work! They perish in their transgressions; and their deeds are none-theless sin, even though God has deigned to use their deeds in the fulfilment of His Word. How much greater to give God first place in our hearts, that our works might praise Him!

Questions

1. Why did Samuel make his sons judges over Israel?

2. What complaint did the Children of Israel bring to Samuel in regard to his sons?

3. Name several reasons why the elders of Israel wanted a king.

4. What was Samuel's reaction toward this proposal? What was God's attitude?

5. What did God instruct Samuel to do?

6. Did the Children of Israel obey the voice of God when Samuel brought His words to them?

7. Why is it so dangerous for a man to contend for his own ways in spite of what God desires?

8. Did the elders of Israel enjoy their king when he was given to them?

9. What King is the Christian looking forward to seeing one day soon?