Give Us a King – Do We Desire to be Like Others?

Give Us a King
1 Samuel 8:1-7
Israel under Judges
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

1 Samuel 8
1 Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel…
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 make us a king to judge us like all the nations."
1 Samuel 8:6-7
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD.7 And 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.
1 Samuel 8:8-9
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 show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."
1 Samuel 8:10-15
10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king.11 And he said,"This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots….14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants..
1 Samuel 8:19-21
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us,20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD 22 So the LORD said to Samuel,"Heed their voice, and make them a king."
God Gives Israel a King
1 Samuel 9 – King Saul is anointed –
– Tall, good looking, yet weak in character
1 Samuel 13-15 – Saul’s disobedience

God Gives Israel a King
1 Samuel 16 – God anoints David
– After God’s heart
– David becomes a rare good king
Hosea 13:11 I gave you a king in My anger, And took him away in My wrath.


God Has Set Us Apart
Judges 2:2 And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.‘
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
We Desire to Be Like Others
John 17:15-16 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We Desire to Be Like Others
Like our friends at school
Our co-workers
Non-Christians
Our culture
Denominational World
We Desire to Be Like Others
Some want to be like denominations
– NT churches are autonomous, self governing, no earthly headquarters
Want to compromise truth and doctrine, worship, and uniqueness
Consequences of Conforming
Failure to appreciate what we have
It influences our sons and daughters
We are forced to surrender things we don’t want to
It makes us do things we don’t want to
We will regret it some day
Have the Courage to be Different for God
John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Give Us a King
1 Samuel 8:1-7