Give us a king: 1 Samuel 8

Give us a King

1 Samuel 8

Did you ever ask your parents for something with these three words: “But everybody else…”?

“Everybody else gets to stay up later.”

“Everybody else has a phone.”

“Everybody else gets to go.”

“Everybody else is doing it.”

And if your parents were anything like mine, you probably heard the response:

“If everybody else jumped off a bridge, would you?”

Well… apparently, when I was younger, my answer was, “Yes.” I remember one time when my brother was in college, just a few minutes from our house. A hurricane had come through, and somehow a group of us decided it would be a great idea to go play in the storm water. Now, looking back, there were probably several warning signs that this was a terrible idea.

The college is right on the Pasquotank River in Elizabeth City, and part of the campus was completely flooded. There was a walking bridge that normally crossed over the water, but the water had risen so high that the bridge was almost underwater.

And then somebody had the brilliant idea: “Let's jump off the bridge and swim across.” Again… in the middle of a hurricane. And because everybody else was doing it, I did it too.

I jumped off that bridge with my glasses on. The moment I hit the water, my glasses were gone.

Thankfully, I wasn't nearly as blind then as I am now, but it still took three days before the eye doctor opened back up. And my parents ended up paying a couple hundred dollars for a new pair of glasses. All because I thought, “Everybody else is doing it.”

There’s something powerful about those words: everybody else. Because we don't always want something because it's good for us. Sometimes we want it simply because other people have it.

We see what everybody else has, and suddenly what we have doesn't seem good enough anymore. We see how everybody else is living, and suddenly we start thinking maybe we should live that way too. We hear what everybody else is asking for, and eventually we start asking for the same thing.

And that's exactly where we find God's people in 1 Samuel 8. Israel looks around at the nations around them and says, “Everybody else has a king. We want one too.” And the problem wasn't simply that they wanted a king. The problem was that they wanted what everybody else had more than they wanted what God had already given them. They looked around. They compared themselves to everyone else. And eventually, they said, “Give us a king.” And that's where our story begins.

Here at Journey Church we teach the bible. And we believe its important for us to hear from all of scripture. The New Testament as well as the old. So we try to have a rhythm in our preaching calendar. From Jan through spring we are in one of the gospels. During the summer we are in a New Testament letter. Then in the fall we turn our attention to the Old Testament. This fall we are going to be looking at the kings of Israel that will lead us to December as we look the king that we all truly need. Jesus.

Background

From the time Israel came out of Egypt, they were a kingdom unlike the nations around them. They didn't have an earthly king because God Himself was their King. For generations, Israel lived under the leadership of judges. But this time was marked by political, moral, and spiritual anarchy by Israel. Go and read some of the book of Judges and you will see what I mean.

When 1 Samuel opens, Eli is serving as Israel's high priest and judge. But his sons were so wicked that they were using their office for their own personal gain and sinful living. But there was hope. A boy named Samuel was born.

Samuel grew up in stature and in favor of the Lord, living and serving in the temple. After Eli and his two sons die, Samuel becomes Israel's prophet and judge leading the people. But Israel was unlike any other nation because God was their king. But as Samuel grew older his sons were much like the sons of Eli and were wicked. And that’s where we see Israel reject God as their king and want to be like everyone else.

We were made to live under God's rule, but our hearts constantly want to put ourselves on the throne.

If you have your bibles turn with me to 1 Samuel. Left side. Comes right after Judges and Ruth right before 2 Samuel.

Israel rejected their King

1 Samuel 8:1-6

1 Samuel 8:1–6

No doubt the people were reminded of Eli’s sons with Samuel’s sons wickedness. and they may have feared they would be lead Israel back to the days of wickedness, they had known before the Lord had raised up Samuel.

Their concerns were valid, but their hasty impulse was the wrong answer. The elders come to Samuel and demand, “give us a king” like the other nations. Their request displeased and saddened Samuel. God had redeemed Israel from Egypt to be His people, and God was their king. Now they were rejecting God their king and Samuel’s leadership. So Samuel prays.

1 Samuel 8:7-9

1 Samuel 8:7–9

God reminds Samuel that the people weren’t rejecting Samuel, they were rejecting God as their king just as they had done over and over again since God has brought them out of Egypt.

But God tells Samuel to listen to them but warn them what having an earthly king would mean for Israel.

An earthly king would take their sons and daughters to serve him.

An earthly king would take the best of their fields and vineyards.

An earthly king would tax all the people.

And they would live to regret their hasty impulse to be like everyone else. Instead of God’s chosen people. They would eventually cry out to God because of their choice to have an earthly king.

But even after this strong warning the people didn’t care.

Israel chose their king

1 Samuel 8:19-22

1 Samuel 8:19–22

They refused to listen to the warning of Samuel and demand, “give us a king.” And so begins the time of Israel’s kings. As we will see over the next couple of weeks some of their earthly kings were good, others were downright evil. And every earthly king of Israel fell short of their true King. God.

Now here's what's important: the problem wasn't simply that Israel wanted an earthly king. God had already told Israel that one day they would have a king.

The problem was their heart.

They wanted a king like the nations around them.

They weren't asking, “God, who should lead us?”

They were saying, “Give us what everybody else has.”

They weren't trusting God's leadership. They wanted something they could see, something they could control, something that would make them look like everybody else.

But Israel's compromised choice would have consequences they would live with for generations. Israel traded God's leadership for human leadership. And if we're honest, we do the same thing.

We choose our king

Just like Israel, we can reject God as our King and put other things on the throne of our hearts. We want to live like everyone else. Listen to Paul’s words.

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Paul says in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices to God. Often we are ok with God being our king, but on our terms. God you can be my king one Sunday every six weeks from 10-11am maybe 11:15. But come 11:16 we reject his kingship once again and put our man-made king back on His throne of our lives.

It's possible to give God an hour on Sunday and still refuse to give Him your life. We sing, “Jesus is Lord.”

And then Monday morning we say, “But this is my money.”

Tuesday we say, “This is my relationship.”

Wednesday we say, “This is my career.”

Thursday we say, “This is my entertainment.”

Friday we say, “This is my time.”

And Sunday comes around and we sing, “Jesus, You are King.”

But the question isn't whether we call Him King. The question is whether we live like He's King.

The throne of self

Sometimes the king we put on the throne is simply ourselves. “I'll do what I want.” “I'll make my own decisions.” “Nobody is going to tell me how to live.” We don't need someone else to rule us because we've decided we want to rule ourselves.

The throne of money

For some of us, money sits on the throne. Our decisions are driven by what makes us more comfortable, more successful, more secure. We don't ask, “God, what do You want me to do with what You've given me?” We ask, “What can I afford?” And there's a difference.

The throne of approval

Some of us have put other people's opinions on the throne. “What will they think?” “Will they approve?” “Will I fit in?” “What is everybody else doing?” And suddenly we're allowing the culture around us to tell us how to live instead of allowing the King above us to tell us how to live.

The throne of comfort

And for some of us, comfort is king. “I don't want to sacrifice.” “I don't want to serve.” “I don't want to forgive.” “I don't want to have that difficult conversation.” “I don't want to step outside my comfort zone.” But Jesus never called us to make comfort our king.

Whatever sits on the throne determines the direction of your life.

Paul doesn't say we offer God an hour on Sunday. He says we offer our bodies—a living sacrifice. All of me. God doesn't want just a place in our schedules. He wants our whole lives. He is the king of kings and the Lord of lords and He demands all or nothing. True and proper worship to God is to offer everything you are and have to Him.

Here at Journey Church we put it this way: Every day we joyfully give God the best of everything we are and everything we have. We trust that Jesus is all we need, being transformed by who He is and what He has done.

Paul tells us here in Romans 12 that we can only live lives that are pleasing to God by not being like the world. Not conforming to the patters of this world. Like Israel we can’t live with God as our king and live like the rest of the world. We have to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

So let me ask you. Is God the king of your Sunday mornings or is He the king of your whole lives?

Because if God is your King it will change everything you do and say. Paul says…

Colossians 3:17

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Whatever you do, in word and action. Do it all in the name of Jesus.

If Jesus is King, then when your wife is difficult to love, you don't get to say, “I'm done.” You say, Jesus is King.

When your husband frustrates you, you don't get to say, ‘I'm going to give him what he deserves.’ No. You say, ‘Jesus is King.’

When your kids are testing every ounce of patience you have, you don't get to say, “I'm going to lose my mind.” You say, Jesus is King.

When your boss is unfair, you don't get to say, “I'm going to work hard only when they're watching.” Jesus is King.

When somebody hurts you, you don't get to say, “I'll never forgive them.” Jesus is King.

When God puts an opportunity in front of you to serve someone, you don't get to say, “That's not convenient.” Jesus is King.

When Jesus is King, He doesn't just get your Sunday. He gets your Monday. Your marriage. Your parenting. Your money. Your work. Your relationships. Your words. Your thoughts. Your time. Your whole life.

The question isn't whether we live in the world. We do. The question is whether the world is shaping us or Jesus is shaping us.

Are my priorities being formed by Scripture or by culture? Are my desires being formed by Jesus or by what I see on my phone? Are my definitions of success coming from God or from everybody else? Am I asking, “What does everybody else do?” Or am I asking, “What does my King want me to do?”

But the choice is yours. Israel faced this same choice over and over again. Would they live like everyone else or would they serve the Lord. And this same choice is before you. Will you live like the rest of the world, or will God be your king and will you serve the Lord.

Israel said: “Give us a king like the nations.” And eventually God gave them kings. Saul failed. David failed. Solomon failed. And king after king failed. But God ultimately did something Israel never could have imagined. God ultimately gave them the King they truly needed. Jesus!

Israel wanted a king who looked like the nations. But God gave them a King who looked like no other king.

A King who didn't come to take their sons and daughters.

A King who gave His own Son.

A King who didn't take the best of their fields.

A King who gave His own life.

A King who didn't come to be served.

He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

Israel said, “Give us a king.” And God ultimately answered with Jesus.

When Jesus was crucified, Pilate had a sign placed above His head as a slap in the face to the Jewish leaders. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Pilate meant it as an accusation. But Pilate didn't realize that he was proclaiming the truth.

Jesus truly is the King that Israel needed. And He's the King that the whole world needs. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Maybe you've spent your life trying to sit on the throne yourself.

Maybe money has been your king.

Maybe success has been your king.

Maybe relationships have been your king.

Maybe you've spent your life chasing the approval of everyone around you.

Maybe you've given Jesus a part of your life, but you've never completely surrendered the throne. Because whatever sits on the throne of your life will determine the direction of your life.

So let me ask you: Who is sitting on your throne?

Paul is a great example of this. Before Paul came to faith in Jesus, he thought he was serving God. He had his own ideas about what God wanted, and he was living his life according to those ideas. But then Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. Jesus changed everything. And when Ananias came to Paul, he told him what he needed to do.

Acts 22:16 says:

Acts 22:16

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

Paul had to get off the throne. He had to surrender. He had to stop living life on his own terms and recognize that Jesus is King.

And today, Jesus is inviting you to do the same. Step off the throne. Surrender your life to Him. Not just as Savior. But as King.

So today, don't say, “Give me a king.” Say: “Give me THE King.” Jesus is the King you need. And the question isn't whether He is King. He is. The question is: Is He your King?

If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, today is the day. Repent of your sins. Put your faith in Jesus. Be baptized into Him. Give Him your whole life. And now what are you waiting for? Get off the throne. And give the throne to the King.