1 Samuel 8

[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 8

"Asking for a king... Praying for a king"

[Read 1 Samuel 8]

About 20 - 25 years have passed between the end of chapter 7 and the beginning of chapter 8. Yet nothing is recorded. What could this mean?



Samuel has grown old... the people and leaders around him have changed. Many of the people from his youth (last few chapters) have died. What do we get from this?



What was Samuel's reaction? How did he feel?



[Activity]> Israel wants a king. Why? List the pros and cons...




By the Israelites asking for a king, what were they really saying?



Verses 11 - 17 gives a description of what a king will do. How can this be related to other false gods? And how does this contrast with the heavenly King?



In Genesis 17:6 / 17:16 / 35:11 / 49:10 / Deut 17:14-20 you can see that God had every intention of giving Israel a king. So what was the problem?



God had planned for David to be king, but it wasn't time. So instead they get Saul. What does this tell us?



"The greatest judgment that God can give us is to let us have our own way." What does this statement mean? Do you agree with it?



By the time we get to king Solomon, the people are complaining about how much tax and stuff they were having to pay to keep Solomon in all his riches. What does this tell us?