Basic HTML Version
386
The Beginning of the End
too permissive with his sons, and the result was plain to see in their
character.
This gave the people a pretext for urging the change they had
secretly desired for a long time. “All the elders of Israel gathered
together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said unto him, ‘Look,
[305]
you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a
king to judge us like all the nations.’” If Samuel had known about the
evil course of his sons, he would have removed them immediately,
but this was not what the people wanted. Samuel saw that their real
motive was discontent and pride. No one had complained against
Samuel. Everyone acknowledged that he had governed with integrity
and wisdom. The old prophet did not give a rebuke, but he carried
the matter to the Lord in prayer and sought counsel from Him alone.
The Lord Warns Israel of Their Mistake
The Lord said to Samuel: “Heed the voice of the people in all
that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have
rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the
works which they have done since the day that I brought them up
out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me
and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.”
Israel had prospered the most when they acknowledged Jehovah
as their King, when they believed that the laws and the government
that He had established were superior to those of other nations. But
by straying from God’s law the Hebrews had failed to become the
people that God wanted to make them—then they blamed God’s
government for all the evils that resulted from their own sin and
foolish actions.
The Lord permitted the people to follow their own choice, be-
cause they refused to be guided by His counsel. When people choose
to have their own way, He often grants their desires so that they may
come to realize their foolishness. Whatever the heart desires contrary
to the will of God will end up to be a curse rather than a blessing.
God instructed Samuel to grant the request of the people, but
to warn them of the Lord’s disapproval and to let them know what
would be the result of their choice. He faithfully explained to them
the burdens that a king would lay upon them and the contrast between