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Bible study · 1 Samuel 8:1-22

1 Samuel 8: Like all the nations

Read 1 Samuel 8:1-22 before you meet.

In a few lines

The elders asked for a king in words from Moses' law for a king, "like all the nations" (8:5). The LORD called it a rejection of himself as king, and still told Samuel to listen to their voice (8:7, 8:22). And Samuel's warning ends with "your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves" (8:18), where the law had said "him whom the LORD your God chooses" (Deuteronomy 17:15).

The verse to carry

“The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.”

1 Samuel 8:7

To talk about

  1. 1. The elders wanted a king "like all the nations" (8:5), and the people said it again: "that we also may be like all the nations" (8:20). Where do you feel the pull to be like everyone around you, and what does it cost?

  2. 2. They wanted a king to "go out before us, and fight our battles" (8:20). What battles in your life are you tempted to hand to someone or something other than God?

  3. 3. Samuel told them what the king would take (8:11-17), and they still said, "No, but we will have a king over us" (8:19). Have you ever wanted something badly enough to set aside a clear warning? What happened?

Prayer requests