June 10, 2018
1 Samuel 8:4-17
“The Dangers of Rejecting God as Sovereign”
This text is part of an overarching argument in the Samuel literature that seems to say, “Be careful what you wish for.” The Elders of Israel ask Samuel for a king so they can be like other nations. Samuel took this as a rejection of his role as prophet. Instead – in what is for me one of the most poignant moments in the Bible – God says that it is not Samuel, but God who has been rejected. The people get their king, but not before being warned. There are big differences between God’s sovereignty and that of political leaders and rulers. We are asked to know the differences, and to choose God as our sovereign.