by:
10/30/2025
0
1 Samuel 8 addresses a time of political upheaval in Israel. Crises usually have a multiplicity of components. Samuel, who had been a wonderful prophet-leader, was growing old. His judgement, no doubt affected by family relationships, led to his making poor appointments of judges. His chosen judges brought out the worst in the people, and rather than asking for better judges, they demanded a king, a radical change in their form of government. They “wanted to be like other nations,” and, in rejecting Samuel, were rejecting God, so God gave them the king they wanted.
When our “God-consciousness” is diminished, our desires inevitably become more worldly. Israel had to live through the very difficult reign of Saul before God gave them David.






