The People’s Refusal to Listen
First Samuel 8: 19-22
The people’s refusal to listen DIG: Why did the Israelites want a king? Why were they unsatisfied with judges? What part did Samuel’s sons play in Isra’el’s desire for a king? What part was played by their envy of the surrounding nations? How would the monarchy change the lives of the Israelites? What were they gaining? What were they losing?
REFLECT: Why did the LORD allow Isra’el to have a king, even though He knew it would bring suffering to them? How does ADONAI take our own sins and sovereignly use them as part of His perfect will? Are you content to live as God directs, or do you tend to want things your own way? What areas of your life might the Lord want you to submit to Him?
ADONAI is sovereign, but people are still responsible for their actions.
In spite of ADONAI’s warnings (to see link click Br – Samuel’s Warnings), the people insisted that God give them a king. They were the victim of their own unbelieving folly, and their cries for relief went unanswered. Pleasing the LORD wasn’t the thing uppermost in their minds; what they wanted was guaranteed protection against their enemies. They wanted someone to judge them and fight their battles, someone they could see and follow. They found it too demanding to trust an invisible God and obey His wonderful mitzvot. In spite of all YHVH had done for Isra’el from the call of Abraham to the conquest of the Promised Land, they turned their back on Almighty God and chose to have a frail man to rule over them.200
The people refused to listen to what Samuel told them, and they said: No! We want a king over us, so that we can be like all the nations, with our king to judge us, lead us and fight our battles (8:19-20). As we have seen repeatedly, there were aspects of the LORD’s role in the nation of Isra’el. However, the people were indeed rejecting ADONAI by demanding to have a mortal lead and defend them. The more people depend on human government, the less they depend on YHVH.201 Samuel heard everything the people said and repeated them for ADONAI to hear. ADONAI said to Samuel, “Do what they ask, and set up a king for them.” So Samuel told the men of Isra’el, “Each of you, return to his city” with the understanding that the request would be granted in due time (8:21-22).
It is important to distinguish three aspects of the will of ADONAI. God’s sovereign will is what He decrees to come to pass. It includes all things and is irresistible and absolute. In Him, we were chosen, having been predestined according to His plan that works everything in conformity with the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:11). We do not regard this as fatalism, for God is involved and concerned, and we are responsible for our actions. ADONAI’s perfect will is what He advocates and prefers. This aspect of God’s will includes His moral desires as revealed in His Word (see the commentary on Exodus Dh – ADONAI and the Torah). Finally, His permissive will refers to what YHVH permits even when it is not in conformity with His perfect will. Ha’Shem may permit sin, though it is not in keeping with what He prefers. At this time God has granted certain powers to Satan as the god of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4) until the Lord returns (Isaiah 63:1-6) with the title deed to the earth (see the commentary on Revelation Cf – You Are Worthy to Take the Scroll) at the beginning of His Messianic Kingdom (see Isaiah Jt – Isra’el in the Messianic Kingdom).202
Was it ADONAI’s will for Isra’el to have a king? The answer is “yes!” Prophecies dating back to Moses indicate that this was God’s plan (Genesis 49:10; Number 24:17; Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The fact that the monarchy was actually instituted indicates that it was part of God’s sovereign will – His decree. But was it God’s will that they acquire a king in the manner in which they were doing it? No. The people were rejecting the kingship of YHVH (First Samuel 8:7) and were motivated by a desire to be like all the nations (8:20). Nevertheless, ADONAI allowed this to take place, because it was within His permissive will of the nation.
Ironically, Ha’Shem gave them their king, but it ended up being part of His judgment against the nation. As they were sitting in the Babylonian captivity (see the commentary on Jeremiah Gu – Seventy Years of Imperial Babylonian Rule), Zedekiah would be the last human king of Isra’el (see Jeremiah Fy – A Warning to Zedekiah). God’s ultimate answer to their foolish decision is recorded in Hosea 13:9-11, “It is your destruction, Isra’el, although your help is in Me. So now, where is your king, to save you in all your cities? Where are your judges, of whom you said: Give me a king and leaders’? I gave you a king in my anger; and in my fury I took him away.”203 There is application for us today. When believers are in God’s permissive will, but disobedient, then they alone are responsible for their actions. YHVH is sovereign, yes, but people are still responsible for our actions. With respect to sin and evil, the LORD wills to permit it (Genesis 50:20; Acts 2:23), but not to effect it, for He is not the author of evil (James 1:13).204
Dear heavenly Father, praise You for being such a wonderful Father! People often choose to listen to the world, rather than to go to You for advice; but You are wise and always give the best to those who love You. Your advice is far better than what anyone else says. When Isra’el begged You for a king, You gave them what they wanted, but Sha’ul turned out to be an evil king. It would have been so much better if the people had trusted You as their King, then the problem would seem small. When problems seem big, it is such a comfort to realize that You are always bigger, wiser and stronger! David was an excellent example of a man with problems, which many could have been thought of as “Big problems.” Sha’ul was out to kill him, but David trusted strongly in You, so he saw “small problems” and a “Big God! David cried out: Answer me when I call to You, my righteous God! You set me free when I am in distress. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer (Psalms 4:1).
You have the victory all worked out, if only Your people would put their trust in You rather in the world. ADONAI, how many are my foes! Many are rising up against me! Many are saying to my soul: “There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah But You, ADONAI, are a shield around me, my glory and the lifter of my head. I cry out to ADONAI with my voice, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah I lie down and sleep. I awake – for ADONAI sustains me (Psalms 3:1-5). Dear Father, I love You and seek to follow David’s example and run to You with my problems for You are almighty, loving and wise! In Messiah’s holy Name and power of His Resurrection. Amen
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