1 Samuel: They demaded a king and hell came with it

With 1 Samuel, the prophetic office is introduced along with the dynasty of kings. Samuel was the incubation of God’s vision for the prophetic office and a woman’s desire to bear a child, and then her willingness to give that child back to God.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>The players in this story are a mixed bag of humanity.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>The Israelite people show their rebellious hearts when they “demand” a king.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>Yes, you read that right.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>They demanded that the Almighty God give up his throne for a mere mortal.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>Why?<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>So they could “keep up with the Jones!”<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>They wanted to be like the world. James says, “Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.”<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>So, they opened the door to hell on earth.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>Eli was their priest, raising sons of rebellion to the Lord, mirroring the calloused, dark hearts of the people. Saul was chosen to be king even when God told them they would regret it because he would bring calamity upon them.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>He fell from God’s grace out of disobedience and dabbling in witchcraft because he was desperatel to hold onto his crown.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>To no avail.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>He lost not only his life, but the life of his son, Jonathan (whom David loved and had a special kinship with).<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>Eli’s sons were killed for their rebellion and stealing from the Lord and His people.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>Eli himself, when he heard the Lord’s Ark was stolen by the Philistine’s fell and broke his neck.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>Not a happy ending for that family.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>Samuel had already prophetically identified David as the next king.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>At the end of 1 Samuel, he takes the throne, coming out of hiding from running as prey, keeping himself out of Saul’s mad, jealous reach.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> God sure tells us some exciting stories!
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