1 Samuel 8:5 - Forerunner Commentary

1 Samuel 8:5

3 But his sons ^adid not walk in his ways; they turned aside ^bafter dishonest gain, ^ctook bribes, and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,

5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now ^amake us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

6 But the thing ^adispleased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel ^bprayed to the Lord.

7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for ^athey have not rejected you, but ^bthey have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

8 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.

9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and ^ashow them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”

10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king.

Library

<< 1 Samuel 8:4

1 Samuel 8:6 >>

Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain 1 Samuel 8:5:

I Samuel 8:5-9

Now, they did this because Samuel's sons were not following in the footsteps of Samuel. They did not live like him. They did not believe like him. They conducted their lives like the people of the land. They were not the kinds of leaders that these people wanted. They gave every indication that they were going to be tyrannical (despotic), and these people did not want to live under them. So the people, then, say in verse 5:
So we see that the system of judges—who were ruling Israel as God's agents, His representatives—continued until Samuel. Then the people let it be known that they wanted a king, like all the other nations. Verse 7 makes it clear that, despite having judges, God was still their Official. He was still their real Ruler, and His law was to be the law of the land.

Excerpted from Government (Part 2)

Articles

Does Scripture Allow for Killing in Self-Defense?
God's Kingdom in the Parables (Part One): Sower and Seed

Sermons

Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part One)
Preparing To Be King
Why Liberals Love Illegals (Part Three)
Hope to the End (Part One)
Jabez: a Roadsign of Hope
God and Government

<< 1 Samuel 8:4

1 Samuel 8:6 >>

Join 137,114+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning