Choosing A King

1 Samuel 8

Introduction: Some of you may follow the British Monarchy. It was probably at it’s height in popularity when Princess Diana came onto the seen.

Princes Diana was born on July 1, 1961 (a few days older than Sara and I) and died on August 31, 1997.

In 1 Samuel 8:5-8 the Israelites ask Samuel to appoint a king, saying, “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.” Was this wrong?

The following verses make clear that it was. Samuel was displeased and prayed to the Lord concerning the matter. God answered, “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. 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”

• God said the Israelites’ request was a rejection of Him, that they had forsaken Him and were serving other gods.

Transition: Application: We need to be very careful when choosing who is going to be the king in our lives!

Saul became their choice: 1 Samuel 9:1-2

• He came from a wealthy family lineage
• Was handsome

1 Samuel 9:15-17, ‘Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince[c] over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen[d] my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.”

Later, Samuel gave a farewell speech that would also address this issue, saying, “I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king” (1 Samuel 12:17).

In verse 19 the people responded, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

• Interestingly, God had already predicted that the Israelites would one day ask for a king.
  

In Deuteronomy 17:14–15, for example, God said, “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,’ be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses.”

Other passages also predicted that the Israelites would one day ask for a king.
For example, God promised Jacob, “A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants” (Genesis 35:11). Similar references to future kings can be found in Genesis 36:31; 49:10; Numbers 24:7–9; and Deuteronomy 28:36.

Application: God knows / knew that his created children would one day want a king.

• God let’s us decide who we will follow, listen to, take orders from, etc.

Question: Why was asking for a king wrong? The Lord was to be the ruler of Israel. God led the people through Moses and Aaron, and then through priests and judges raised up to govern the people.

In Samuel’s time, the people began to worry about who the next leader would be, since Samuel’s sons did not follow the Lord. Their request for a king was a rejection of God’s way of leadership over them.

Another reason it was wrong to ask for a king is that the Israelites did so in order to be like “all the other nations.”

God had created Israel as a unique people. He was their leader. When the Israelites wanted a king like other nations had, they were rejecting their unique, set-apart position as God’s people.

The nation whose God was to be the Lord alone was envious of the nations who followed false gods.

Application: When King Saul (the first king of Israel) was chosen, they used the wrong criterion! (Handsome and ‘head and shoulders above the rest’. 1 9 Samuel 19:23

Jimmy Swaggert died at the age of 90 this week.

When considering how to choose a godly leader to follow, the Bible can provide guidance by examining the characteristics it outlines for such rulers. The Bible emphasizes that a leader’s character is more important than appearance or popularity.

Qualities of a Godly Leader:

The Bible outlines several crucial qualities to look for:

Fear of God: A godly ruler fears God, leading to humility, reverence for God’s laws, and a recognition of accountability to God. This inspires adherence to good laws and resistance to bad ones.

Upholding Justice: A just ruler demonstrates integrity, impartiality, and compassion, especially towards the poor and needy. Justice demands equal treatment for all under the law.

Wisdom and Understanding: Godly leaders are wise and understanding, enabling them to make sound and moral decisions. They speak thoughtfully and listen carefully. True wisdom, in this context, is rooted in the fear of the Lord and obedience to His precepts.

Truthfulness: A truthful leader not only presents facts accurately but also demonstrates faithfulness to God’s law. Such a leader also surrounds themselves with truthful advisors.

Self-Control: Mastery over physical and emotional desires gives a leader better judgment and makes them less susceptible to manipulation and abuse of power. It enables them to resist temptation and choose words and actions carefully.

Discernment

Character

Conclusion: Many have questioned whether Prince Charles made the right decision in picking and marrying Princess Diana.

Question? Was she the right choice for the right reasons, or was she chosen because of things like her youth, looks, etc.

Application: All of us have chosen a King to follow and submit to!

Question: Who is your/our king and why have we chosen the way we have chosen?