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1 Samuel 8:10-20 (Common English Bible)
10 Then Samuel explained everything the Lord had said to the people who were asking for a king. 11 “This is how the king will rule over you,” Samuel said:
“He will take your sons, and will use them for his chariots and his cavalry and as runners for his chariot. 12 He will use them as his commanders of troops of one thousand and troops of fifty, or to do his plowing and his harvesting, or to make his weapons or parts for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, or bakers. 14 He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 He will give one-tenth of your grain and your vineyards to his officials and servants. 16 He will take your male and female servants, along with the best of your cattle and donkeys, and make them do his work. 17 He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and then you yourselves will become his slaves! 18 When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but on that day the Lord won’t answer you.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel and said, “No! There must be a king over us 20 so we can be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”
Summary: Life often brings unexpected events that bring new questions, challenges and opportunities. It can be hard to deal with change. In our Transitions worship series, we explore how change can be difficult to manage, yet, by faith, we trust in God to see us through.
When a startling life change occurs, we can’t help but ask, “Why?” Why, God, is this happening? Why now?
When Samuel was a young prophet, God called him to speak truth to corruption in his mentor Eli’s house. Now, as an old man and judge of Israel, Samuel has been charged with ignoring corruption in his own house. Samuel’s children have “tried to turn a profit, accepted bribes and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:3). Israel sees that other nations have kings and think their solution is to have a king rule over them.
“Why?,” Samuel wonders. Why didn’t I know my children were so corrupt? Why do they think a king will make things better? Why is this happening to me?
Like Israel and Samuel, sometimes we answer “why” by trying to respond to the many changes around us and discover we can’t handle them all. Instead, when faced with troubling transitions, we are called to respond from a centeredness of faith in God. In the midst of transitions, when we seek our “why” (our purpose), God reveals faith, hope and strength for the journey ahead. As the great hymn of the church says, “Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
Reflection Questions:
- Why does Israel think a God will make their lives better?
- Why is it important to rely on God in times of transition more than ourselves?
- Why has God created you? What is your purpose?
Sermon References
- “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand“ (song lyrics)
- Van Jones: “Our slogan was never ‘Yes, he can,’ it was ‘yes WE can‘” (quote)