Who Appointed You Judge?

At times it can be hard to submit to God’s authority in our life, to trust Him and His ways. We can become envious of what others have and want the same for ourselves. This is what the Israelites expressed to Samuel in 1 Samuel chapter 8 after Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel. They told Samuel, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations (5).”

It’s interesting that the reason behind their request is not just Samuel aging or his disobedient sons, but that they want to be like other nations who have a king. They saw the problem with Eli’s sons before Samuel: “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD (1 Samuel 2:12). Instead of seeking God to provide direction, they look to the nations around them who have kings and they want to replicate it.

God reminds Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them (1 Samuel 8:7).” Samuel was appointed to convey God’s word to the Israelites. It’s a good reminder to those who serve as messengers of God that when people reject God’s word, they are rejecting God and not you.

This has been Israel’s pattern since God led them out of Egypt. “Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also (8:8).” It is a problem of obedience—of looking to others for solutions and direction instead of God.

Sometimes we think we know better than God, but our answers have consequences. So it was with the Israelites. In verses 10-18, God tells Samuel to tell them the cost of having a king—how their sons and daughters will serve the king; how “He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants (14); How “He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants (15); and the fact that later they won’t like it.

Even after Samuel tells them the cost, they still insist on having a king: “Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, ‘No, but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles (19).’” Not only do they want to still be like other nations, but they also want someone to fight their battles for them.

What about you? Are you desiring to be more like others, than following God which sometimes means you’ll do things differently? Are you looking for others to fight your battles instead of picking up the sword of truth yourself? Perhaps you are discouraged because you feel rejected by people because of your faith in Jesus. Instead of looking to others for answers, humbly seek God. Patiently wait on God. Trust Him and His ways.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9, NASB