1 Samuel 8

1SAMUEL 8:1-9
with Jason Hunley
November 18, 2007

Jason took sometime to introduce himself and his ministry to our preschool (birth thru Kindergarten) children at the church that he and his wife administrate. This was good facetime for our community since we usually keep him locked away in the basement.

Jason introduced his sermon by talking of Israel's history of rebellion against God and how he had saved them through His judges. Next, he read this text:

1 Samuel 8:1
As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”

After reading this passage, Jason shared some personal stories of how God had "allowed him to fail" throughout his life. These were brutally honest and real times when it was hard to see God's purpose through the harships. In the end: We must realize that nothing happens by chance and that God has a plan even through our struggles and especially through our failures.

"Every wise person is marked by the scars of perseverance." Erwin McManus