Saul, the First King of Israel
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A pretext was thus furnished for urging the change long secretly
desired. “All the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and
came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old,
and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us
like all the nations.” Had the evil course of his sons been known to
him, he would have removed them without delay, but this was not
what the petitioners desired. Samuel saw that their real motive was
discontent and pride. No complaint had been made against Samuel.
All acknowledged the integrity and wisdom of his administration. The
aged prophet uttered no reproach, but carried the matter to the Lord in
prayer and sought counsel from Him alone.
The Lord Warns Israel of Their Mistake
The Lord said unto Samuel: “Hearken unto the voice of the people
in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, 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 unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me,
and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.”
The days of Israel’s greatest prosperity had been those in which
they acknowledged Jehovah as their King, when the laws and the
government which He had established were regraded as superior to
those of other nations. But by departing from God’s law the Hebrews
had failed to become the people that God desired to make them. Then
all the evils which were the result of their own sin and folly they
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charged upon the government of God.
The Lord permitted the people to follow their own choice, because
they refused to be guided by His counsel. When men choose to have
their own way, He often grants their desires that they may be led to
realize their folly. That which the heart desires contrary to the will of
God will in the end be a curse rather than a blessing.
Samuel was instructed to grant the request of the people, but to
warn them of the Lord’s disapproval and make known what would be
the result of their course. He faithfully set before them the burdens that
would be laid upon them and the contrast between such oppression
and their present free and prosperous condition. Their king would
imitate the pomp and luxury of other monarchs. Grievous exactions