Ref: 1 Samuel 8:4-5
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| Rev. Benedict Eghan |
I continue
with my series on the Christian Leader and the family with reference to the
book of 1 Samuel. 1Samuel Chapter Eight introduces us into a new era in the
history of Israel – the period under kingship. One of the reasons that
necessitated the quest for a king was the fact that, the people accused
Samuel’s sons as not walking in the ways of their father.
1 Sam.
8:4-5
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel
at Ramah, and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not
walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."
As
an old man, Samuel appointed his sons to be judges over Israel in his place. But
they turned out to be corrupt, much like Eli’s sons (2:12). We don’t know why
Samuel’s sons went wrong, but we know that Eli was held responsible for his own
sons’ corruption. Probably, in the case of Samuel, he had played his part very
well.
However,
the attitude of the children was not without effect on the land. It paved a way
for the people of Israel to “rebel” against God as their true king. It must
however be established that the Israelites’ quest for a king had other
motivational factors which included fear – Chpt. 12:9-12.
“And when they forgot the Lord
their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army
of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of
Moab; and they fought against them. Then they cried out
to the Lord, and said, 'We have
sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord
and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but
now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.' And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and
Samuel,
and delivered you out of the hand of your
enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. And when you saw that Nahash
king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall
reign over us,' when the Lord your
God was your
king”.
By: Rev. Benedict Eghan
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