First King of Israel
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Divinely invested with the threefold office of judge, prophet, and priest,
he had labored with untiring and disinterested zeal for the welfare of
his people, and the nation had prospered under his wise control. Order
had been restored, and godliness promoted, and the spirit of discontent
was checked for the time. But with advancing years the prophet was
forced to share with others the cares of government, and he appointed
his two sons to act as his assistants. While Samuel continued the duties
of his office at Ramah, the young men were stationed at Beersheba, to
administer justice among the people near the southern border of the
land.
It was with the full assent of the nation that Samuel had appointed
his sons to office, but they did not prove themselves worthy of their
father’s choice. The Lord had, through Moses, given special directions
to His people that the rulers of Israel should judge righteously, deal
justly with the widow and the fatherless, and receive no bribes. But the
sons of Samuel “turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted
judgment.” The sons of the prophet had not heeded the precepts which
he had sought to impress upon their minds. They had not copied the
pure, unselfish life of their father. The warning given to Eli had not
exerted the influence upon the mind of Samuel that it should have
done. He had been to some extent too indulgent with his sons, and the
result was apparent in their character and life.
The injustice of these judges caused much dissatisfaction, and a
pretext was thus furnished for urging the change that had long been
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.” The cases of abuse among the people had not been
referred to Samuel. 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, and that their demand was the result of a deliberate and
determined purpose. No complaint had been made against Samuel.
All acknowledged the integrity and wisdom of his administration; but
the aged prophet looked upon the request as a censure upon himself,
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and a direct effort to set him aside. He did not, however, reveal his
feelings; he uttered no reproach, but carried the matter to the Lord in
prayer and sought counsel from Him alone.