God’s commentary: “I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath” (Hos 13:11).
Israel hadn’t had it this good since the days of Joshua. Not only was the enemy neutralized, but “Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites” (1 Sam 7:14). Restoration, rest, and also righteousness, because “Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places” (vv 15-16). What could go wrong now? Ah, the clock was ticking. “Now it came to pass when Samuel was old…” (8:1). He knew his time was limited. Who would look after things when he died? So “he made his sons judges over Israel” (v 1). These two, Joel and Abijah, weren’t under their father’s watchful eye in the center of the country, but far to the south in Beersheba. And, as is often the case, power corrupts: “his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice” (v 3). The elders of Israel had enough; they had seen this before, with Eli’s sons, for example. So they said to Samuel, “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” (v 5). Oh, I see. The problem is sons who aren’t like their fathers. So? Let’s institutionalize the problem, with a whole line of fathers and sons! But Samuel didn’t like the suggestion for another reason. The elders weren’t just rejecting Samuel’s ministry and his sons’ behavior. As “the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them’” (v 7). The voice of the people over God’s is always an ill-fated choice. Why do we ever think our will is a better idea than His?