Today, we read about the passage of leadership from Samuel, the prophet and the last in the series of Israel's judges, to the first king, Saul. Interestingly, God delivers on the people's desires, even though these desires represent a perversion of the original intent: that God would be the true and lasting King for Israel. Despite their disobedience and future pain, the Lord reconfirms His covenant with the people and His ongoing oversight of Israel and its kings.
1) The parallels between kingship and idolatry (sin). Samuel offers the people a clear and fair warning of the negative consequences of anointing a king in 1 Samuel 8:10-18:
"Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.'"
The most intriguing parallel lies in that assertion that "you yourselves will become his slaves." As Bob Dylan sagely noted, "gonna have to serve somebody"; ultimately, we will serve ourselves, the flesh, the world's system, or the Lord (and others for His benefit). Each day and each moment, we have this choice. Most temptation thus revolves around a perversion of the "good" in order to steal us away from the "best." In the decision of choosing a ruler, Israel's kings would provide a measure of stability and protection that the nation had lacked since Joshua's death. Yet, they were neglecting the "best" kingship, that of God Himself.
In the same way, idolatry or sin often comes to life in response to a desire for what is below God. These temptations may take root when we are not seeking and finding satisfaction in God's presence alone. James 1:13-15 tells us: "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Our sinful nature draws us away from finding full satisfaction in God alone and into becoming a slave to sin. This picture is perhaps best illustrated through considering the pattern of addiction. At first, a user of a drug might find relief in the drug or an escape from their circumstances. Over time, however, the drug comes to have a power over the person, drawing them away from relationships and making them a slave to their cravings. Without intervention, the drug will ruin the person.
Sin acts like a drug, intially offering excitement or comfort, but ultimately making us a slave. Praise be to God that Jesus's intervention and sacrifice of Himself on the cross has given us a means of breaking this cycle of slavery and addiction to sin. Romans 6:11-14 prescribes the attitude of the freed Christ-follower: "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
2) The renewal of the covenant. While God had enumerated the shortcomings of the Israelites' desires for an earthly king, He still comes to the aid of the people through Saul. "God changed Saul's heart," and he sets the Holy Spirit upon Saul in order to give him strong leadership ability during the siege of Jabesh Gilead. The Lord will indeed intervene through Israel's kings. In Samuel's farewell address, we hear many of the same exhortations that the Israelites had received from Moses and Joshua. The people recognize their sinfulness, including their asking for a king, yet the Lord offers a gracious path forward: "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away." It will be up to the people whether they will choose death or life.
QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever found anything that enslaved you? Why? How did it impact your decisionmaking?
2. How can you choose life today? What does it mean for you?
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