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Why Are We So Different? Lesson #1
1/10/16
Israel was never called to become an equal to the surrounding nations.
Samuel recognizes his age and tries to prepare for the day of his absences
by appointing his two sons as judges for Israel.
1 Samuel 8:1 (NIV)
1
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel.
1 Samuel 8:2 (NIV)
2
The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,
(Ab-ee-yaw) and they served at Beersheba.
These two appointments did not satisfy the elders of Israel.
Knowing that Israel needed a stronger central government, the elders presented
their request to Samuel and backed it up with several arguments. The first two
must have cut Samuel to the heart:
1. He was now old and had no acceptable successor.
2. And his two sons were not godly men but took bribes (1 Sam. 8:3-5).
1 Samuel 8:3 (NIV)
3
But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain
and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
1 Samuel 8:4 (NIV)
4
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
1 Samuel 8:5 (NIV)
5
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."
Argument number 1:
Vs. 5 “You are old….” Samuel was 60-65 years old.
Argument number 2:
Vs. 5 and your sons do not walk in your ways;
Four different judges were mentioned in the Bible as having sons who held
positions of leadership following their fathers’ deaths. In three of the cases—
Gideon’s, Eli’s, and Samuel’s—the sons were portrayed as unworthy successors.
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Why Are We So Different? Lesson #1
1/10/16
In the one instance where apparently successful succession did occur—Jair (Yaear)—it does not appear to have been carried on past one generation (Judg
10:4).
Argument number 3:
now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
The third argument from Israel for a king was to be like the surrounding nations
was a reason the Israelites requested a king (1 Samuel 8:4-5).
We need to address a fundamental question- “Was Israel wrong in asking
for a king?”
They may have been asking for the right thing for the wrong reason!
Genesis 17:6 (NIV)
6
I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come
from you.
The proposal for a king was anticipated centuries earlier by Moses in Duet
17:4
Deuteronomy 17:14 (NIV)
14
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have
taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over
us like all the nations around us,"
If it wasn’t evil to ask for a king that how could this acceptable request become
so wrong?
In verse 4 the tribal leaders of Israel gathered together and traveled to Ramah
(Ra-Ma) where they would confront Samuel were their demands.
1. Problem # 1 Don’t Make Great Decisions Without Praying About It.
Their decision came as the result of a committee meeting not a prayer
meeting.
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Why Are We So Different? Lesson #1
1/10/16
APPLICATION:
God forbid that any of us make a life changing decision and fail to seek the
counsel of God.
 College to attend
 Mate for marriage
 Job moving to another state
James 1:5 (NIV)
5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
3
'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things
you do not know.'
2. Make Sure You Are Willing To Accept God’s Choice In The Matter
Note what they emphasized and what they did not emphasize:
 they demanded a king just "like all the nations."
 they did not demand a king "after God's own heart."
They wanted their king to be just like “all the other nations had”.
Israel was to be so much more!
 They were to be the Lord’s “treasured possessions”.
 A kingdom of priest a holy nation
 A peculiar people a great nation high above all nations.
Israel was selling themselves short with this request to have a king like all the
other nations.
Don’t sell yourself short!
 You may not be the most popular kid in school but you to be the Lord’s
“treasured possessions.
 You are the called out ones
 A kingdom of priest a holy people
3. Problem # 3 Make Sure You Are Moving In The Timing Of The Lord
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Why Are We So Different? Lesson #1
1/10/16
Vs. 5 now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
Two things are needed in fulfilling the will of God.
I. Knowing the will of God
II. Knowing the timing of God
They were demanding a king now!
If they would have waited would God had given them David?
Be careful God made just give you what you want.
Hosea 13:11 (NKJV)
11
I gave you a king in My anger, And took him away in My wrath.
1 Samuel 8:6 (NIV)
6
But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he
prayed to the Lord.
Samuel takes their request for new leadership personally. God’s reply must have
shocked Samuel.
1 Samuel 8:7 (NIV)
7
And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not
you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
The people were tired of God’s rule over their life. They enjoyed the benefits of
God’s rule, security, provision, health but so many rules. So many do’s and
don’ts that they simply had enough of it and wanted to replace it under the
disguise of wanting an earthly king.
1 Samuel 8:8-22
This is the world that David stepped into… and before he makes it to the
throne his world will get much darker than he could ever imagine!