INTRODUCTION: Samuel’s rule as judge was not without its problems. His sons fell short of Samuel’s example and the people demanded a king. However, there is bold contrast with the times of the judges. Samuel is a righteous judge who brings the people of Israel back into line with the will of God. There is revival in the land and justice is restored. In like manner, our lives are not perfect when we determine to serve the Lord. But there is bold contrast with those who serve themselves. May we all have a revival in our hearts matching the revival in this lesson.

1. THE RETURN OF THE ARK (1 Samuel 7:1-2 [1] And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. [2] And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
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1. Brought to Kirjath-jearim (1 Samuel 7:1And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
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1. Brought into the house of Abinadab
2. Eleazar, Abinadab’s son, was sanctified to keep the ark.
2. Held There for 20 Years (1 Samuel 7:2And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
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1. The house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
2. The ark was evidently moved from Kirjath-jearim to Gibeah where it remained for another 50 years before going to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:2-3 [2] And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. [3] And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
   See All...).
2. THE REVIVAL OF ISRAEL (1 Samuel 7:3-6 [3] And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. [4] Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. [5] And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. [6] And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 7:14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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1. The Conditions of Returning to the Lord (1 Samuel 7:3-4 [3] And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. [4] Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
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1. If ye do return unto the Lord (1 Samuel 7:3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
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2. Put away the strange gods (1 Samuel 7:3-4 [3] And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. [4] Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
   See All...; Judges 2:11-13 [11] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: [12] And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. [13] And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 34:1-7 [1] Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. [2] And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. [3] For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. [4] And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. [5] And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. [6] And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about. [7] And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
   See All...; Colossians 3:5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
   See All...; 1 John 5:21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
   See All...).
1. Baalim
2. Ashtaroth
3. Prepare your hearts unto the Lord (1 Samuel 7:3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
   See All...).
4. Serve Him only (1 Samuel 7:3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
   See All...).
5. He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
   See All...).
2. They Gathered for Prayer (1 Samuel 7:5-6 [5] And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. [6] And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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1. Samuel offered to pray unto the Lord for the people (1 Samuel 7:5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
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2. The people gathered in Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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3. They poured water out before the Lord and fasted (1 Samuel 7:6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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4. They confessed their sin before the Lord (1 Samuel 7:6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
   See All...; Ezra 9:5-10 [5] And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, [6] And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. [7] Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. [8] And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. [9] For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. [10] And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
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3. THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL (1 Samuel 7:7-14 [7] And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. [8] And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. [9] And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. [10] And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. [11] And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. [12] Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. [13] So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. [14] And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
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1. The Attack of the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:7And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
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1. The Philistines attacked Israel when they heard they were in Mizpeh.
2. The children of Israel were afraid of the Philistines (1 Samuel 13:6-7 [6] When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. [7] And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
   See All...; 1 Samuel 17:11When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
   See All...). Note: This is quite different from the last battle when the Philistines were afraid and the Israelites were confident that the ark would save them.
2. The Power of Prayer (1 Samuel 7:8-9 [8] And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. [9] And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
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1. The plea of Israel for continual prayer (1 Samuel 7:8And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
   See All...; 1 Samuel 12:23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing.
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2. The faithful prayer of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:9And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
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1. Sacrificial prayer (1 Samuel 7:9And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
   See All...a)
2. Intercessory prayer (1 Samuel 7:9And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
   See All...b; 1 Timothy 2:1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
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3. The faithfulness of God – “and the LORD heard him” (1 Samuel 7:9And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
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3. The Deliverance of the Lord (1 Samuel 7:10-11 [10] And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. [11] And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
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1. The Lord’s thunder (1 Samuel 7:10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
   See All...; cp. 2 Kings 7:5-7 [5] And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. [6] For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. [7] Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
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2. The smitten Philistines (1 Samuel 7:11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
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4. The Stone of Help (1 Samuel 7:12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
   See All...; cp. 1 Samuel 4:1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
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1. Samuel set up a stone of memorial between Mizpeh and Shen.
2. He called it Ebenezer meaning hitherto hath the LORD helped us .
5. The Philistines Subdued (1 Samuel 7:13-14 [13] So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. [14] And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
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1. They came no more into the coast of Israel (1 Samuel 7:13So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
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2. The Lord’s hand was against them all the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:13So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
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3. Cities which the Philistines had taken were restored (1 Samuel 7:14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
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4. There was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites (1 Samuel 7:14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
   See All...).
4. THE RULE OF SAMUEL (1 Samuel 7:15-17 [15] And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. [16] And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. [17] And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
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1. The Judging of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
   See All...; 1 Samuel 25:1And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
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2. The Circuit of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:16-17 [16] And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. [17] And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
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1. Bethel (1 Samuel 7:16And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
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2. Gilgal (1 Samuel 7:16And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
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3. Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:16And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
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4. Ramah (1 Samuel 7:17And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
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1. Samuel’s house was in Ramah.
2. Samuel judged Israel from Ramah.
3. Samuel built an altar unto the Lord in Ramah.
5. THE REJECTION OF SAMUEL’S SONS (1 Samuel 8:1-5 [1] And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. [2] Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. [3] And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. [4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, [5] 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.
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1. The Failure of Samuel’s Sons (1 Samuel 8:1-3 [1] And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. [2] Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. [3] And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
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1. Their position (1 Samuel 8:1And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
   See All...); this brought special responsibility (see Hebrews 13:17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
   See All...; James 3:1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
   See All...; 1 Peter 4:17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
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2. Their names (1 Samuel 8:2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
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1. Joel
2. Abiah
3. Their sins (1 Samuel 8:3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
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1. They turned aside after lucre.
2. They took bribes.
3. They perverted judgment.
4. NOTE: The reputation of Samuel’s family line is somewhat redeemed through Heman, the son of Joel, who was one of three chief singers during the reign of David (1 Chronicles 6:33-34 [33] And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel, [34] The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
   See All...; 1 Chronicles 15:16-17 [16] And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. [17] So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;
   See All..., 19).
2. The Demand of Israel’s Elders (1 Samuel 8:4-5 [4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, [5] 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.
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1. Their gathering (1 Samuel 8:4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
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2. Their complaint (1 Samuel 8:5And 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.
   See All...a) – “thy sons walk not in thy ways”
3. Their demand (1 Samuel 8:5And 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.
   See All...b) – “make us a king to judge us like all the nations”
6. THE GRANTING OF ISRAEL’S REQUEST (1 Samuel 8:6-9 [6] But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. [7] And 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. [8] 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. [9] Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
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1. Samuel’s Displeasure (1 Samuel 8:6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
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1. He opposed their request (1 Samuel 8:6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
   See All...a).
2. He prayed to God (1 Samuel 8:6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
   See All...b). Even though Samuel disagreed with their request, he still went to the Lord for the final answer (Romans 6:13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
   See All...; James 4:6-7 [6] But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
   See All...).
2. God’s Permission (1 Samuel 8:7-9 [7] And 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. [8] 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. [9] Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
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1. Despite their rejection of God’s rule (1 Samuel 8:7-8 [7] And 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. [8] 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.
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2. Despite the trouble they will have (1 Samuel 8:9Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
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3. NOTE: God permitted that which was not His perfect will, but Israel later paid for her impatience. There are three important factors in determining God’s will: what, when, and how. The what of having a king was part of God’s future plan for Israel (Deuteronomy 17:14-20 [14] When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; [15] Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. [16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. [17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. [18] And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: [19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: [20] That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
   See All...). The how was also described in this passage. The problem was with the when . Israel impatiently demanded a king before God’s perfect time. For this impatience they paid dearly (1 Samuel 8:10-18 [10] And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. [11] And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. [12] And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. [13] And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. [14] And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. [15] And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. [16] And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. [17] He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. [18] And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
   See All...; 1 Samuel 14:52And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
   See All...). By application, we must learn to have the patience to wait for God to work in His time (Psalm 27:11-14 [11] Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. [12] Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. [13] I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. [14] Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
   See All...; Isaiah 40:31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
   See All...).
7. THE WARNING OF COMING OPPRESSION (1 Samuel 8:10-18 [10] And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. [11] And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. [12] And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. [13] And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. [14] And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. [15] And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. [16] And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. [17] He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. [18] And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
   See All...)
1. In Taking Their Children (1 Samuel 8:10-13 [10] And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. [11] And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. [12] And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. [13] And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
   See All...)
1. He will take your sons (1 Samuel 8:11-12 [11] And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. [12] And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
   See All...).
2. He will take your daughters (1 Samuel 8:13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
   See All...).
2. In Taking Their Possessions (1 Samuel 8:14-17 [14] And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. [15] And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. [16] And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. [17] He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
   See All...)
1. He will take your fields, vineyards, and oliveyards (1 Samuel 8:14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
   See All...).
2. He will take the tenth of your seed and vineyards (1 Samuel 8:15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
   See All...).
3. He will take your servants (1 Samuel 8:16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
   See All...).
4. He will take the tenth of your sheep (1 Samuel 8:17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
   See All...).
3. Their Future Cry (1 Samuel 8:18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
   See All...)
8. THEIR DETERMINATION TO HAVE A KING (1 Samuel 8:19-22 [19] Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; 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 rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. [22] And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
   See All...)
1. Their Refusal to Obey Samuel (1 Samuel 8:19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
   See All...; Psalm 106:13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
   See All...; Psalm 107:11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
   See All...; Proverbs 1:25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
   See All..., 30)
2. Their Desire to Be Like Others (1 Samuel 8:20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
   See All...)
1. They wanted to be like all nations.
2. They wanted a king to judge them.
3. They wanted someone to fight their battles.
4. NOTE:  God’s people have always been warned against trying to be like the world (Leviticus 20:26And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
   See All...). The children of God are a peculiar people (Exodus 19:5-6 [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
   See All...; Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
   See All...). We are not to conform to the things of the world (Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
   See All...); but to the things of God (Colossians 3:9-10 [9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; [10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
   See All...).
3. Their Reception of God’s Permission (1 Samuel 8:21-22 [21] And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. [22] And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
   See All...)

CONCLUSION: Is your heart set on serving the Lord? Are you seeking His work in your life? Are you allowing Him to work in His time or are you impatiently getting ahead of the Lord?