This chapter in 1 Samuel is very telling of how quickly we forget what the Lord has done for us, and how desperately we want to be more like the world.

More specifically, it tells of how Israel fell away from their faith in the only ONE that had to date been their God, their Hero, their Savior, and brought them from slavery to freedom, from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, from being losers to being the victors in battle!
How quickly they forgot who God is and they were, and desired to be like the other nations rather than set apart and unique, a light to the lost.

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 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. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commandersof 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. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord.22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
1 Samuel 8:4-22

Food for thought: Let us each remember who we are in the Lord’s eyes.
We are His children – He has called us by name!!
He is my King, Lord, Creator, and the Master of my heart, and always will be.
Praise the name of God the Father, God the Son Jesus and God’s Holy Ghost. Amen!

Fun facts: Saul became Israel’s first king. He was born circa 1076 BC in the land of Benjamin in Israel. He became the first King of Israel circa 1046 BC where he united tribes and defeated enemies such as the Ammonites, Philistines, Moabites, and Amalekites. After disobeying God, elder Samuel anointed David as his replacement circa 1019 BC. Jealous of being pushed aside and the accolades bestowed upon David for slaying Goliath, Saul made several failed attempts to take David’s life. Saul died circa 1004 BC.

Photo by: Kari Wiseman – The Lion of St. Augustine