Shmuel | Samuel

When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel.
8:1
But his sons did not follow his ways. They were swayed by profit; they took bribes and they perverted justice.
8:3
They said to him, “Behold! You are old, and your sons did not follow your ways. So now appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.”
:5
It was wrong in Samuel’s eyes that they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” and Samuel prayed to Hashem.
:6
Hashem said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for it is not you whom they have rejected, but it is Me whom they have rejected from reigning over them.
:7
Like all their deeds that they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt until this day — they forsook Me and worshiped the gods of others. So are they doing to you, as well.
:8
And now, heed their voice, but be sure to warn them and tell them about the protocol of the king who will reign over them.”
:9
Samuel told all the words of Hashem to the people who had requested a king of him.
:10
On that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves — but Hashem will not answer you on that day.”
:18
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel. They said, “No! There shall be a king over us,
:19
and we will be like all the other nations; our king will judge us, and go forth before us, and fight our wars!”
:20
Hashem told Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and crown a king for them. …
:22

Daily Holy Bible Reading

1 And it was, when Samuel had grown old, that he appointed his sons judges for Israel.
2 And the name of his first born was Joel, and the name of the second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3 And his sons did not walk in his ways, and they turned after gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice.
4 And all the elders of Israel gathered, and came to Samuel, to Ramah.
5 And they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now, set up for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6 And the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” and Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people, according to all that they will say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.
8 Like all the deeds which they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt, and until this day, and they forsook Me and served other gods; so are they doing to you.
9 And now, listen to their voice; except that you shall warn them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them.
10 And Samuel related all the words of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.
11 And he said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you; he will take your sons, and appoint them to him for his chariots and for his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.
12 And he will appoint them to him commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and to plow his plowing and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons and the equipment for his chariots.
13 And he will take your daughters for his perfumers, for cooks, and for bakers.
14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive trees, and will give them to his slaves.
15 And he will tithe your grain crops and your vineyards, and he will give them to his officers and his slaves.
16 And he will take your male and female slaves, and your handsomest youths and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 And he will tithe your flocks, and you will be slaves to him.
18 And you will cry out on that day because of your king, whom you will have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not answer you on that day.
19 And the people refused to listen to Samuel’s voice, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us.
20 And also we shall be like all the nations, and our king will judge us, go forth before us and wage our wars.”
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke to them in the ears of the Lord.
22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and you shall make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”

Exposé | Moral

Be Lowly That You May Acknowledge G-d Who Is Above

More often you disregard G-d as King (Isa. 44:6).

Either you crown a man-made king (Jesus), or you yourself rule your life without asking, if you find favor in G-d’s eyes?

*Learn from this chapter the consequences of your action and be delivered!