"But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 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.'” vv.3-5
Read chapter 8
How sad it is when Godly parents have ungodly children. Samuel was an amazing Godly man, prophet of the Lord, yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned said for dishonest gain because of bribes and other lusts of the flesh. Just as it says in 1 Timothy that the love of money is the root off all kinds of evil. Was there something more Samuel could have done or done differently? It's easy to be the parent and think it's your fault that your children turned out a certain way but even the most amazing parents have kids that go astray due to free will and the deception of this fallen world. The people could obviously see that Samuel's sons were not fit to judge Israel as he did so worried they ask for a king. They are unsure of what will happen once Samuel is gone and so take matters into their own hands and think that they should become like the nations around them by having a king. God did promise them a king in Genesis 17:6, but they were impatient for the one God was talking about. Even after Samuel describes what this king will be like of hardships and burdens they still desire to be like the nations. They'd rather "fit in" and do what appears to be better than what God had planned. How do you relate to Samuel and his rebellious sons? How have you asked for or done something to "fit in" with nonbelievers?
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