Bible Challenge Day 99: From Judge to King (1 Samuel 7-9)

The period we are now covering is fascinating. Up to the reading for today, the people of Israel have been organized as a loose confederation of tries under the occasional leadership of Judges. Today, we begin the transition to monarchy. Soon we will get Israel’s golden age under Kings David and Solomon. And yet, the transition to monarchy is troublesome and ultimately unsuccessful. The kingdom of the twelve tribes lasts considerably less time than the period of Judges. And today we can already see the problems that will emerge.

Samuel seems to be the dominant figure as the transition begins. In chapter seven, he functions as the last Judge. Israel has sinned, once again opening the door to domination by a foreign power, the Philistines. Like earlier judges, Samuel recalls the people to covenant loyalty (7:3-4), and then leads them in victorious battle against the oppressor (7:7-11). After the victory, “Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life” (7:15). If his story ended there, Samuel would be a judge in the pattern of the early, faithful judges described in the book of Judges.

But when Samuel is old, Israel asks him for a king. Twice they say they want a king so that they can be “like other nations” (8:5, 20). It is a bad idea. Israel was called to be different. God tells Samuel to do it, even though the request is a rejection of God (8:7-9). At God’s command, Samuel warns the people that their king will oppress them (8:11-18). Most of his predictions come true during Solomon’s reign.

Finally, we meet the man destined to be Israel’s first king, Saul. Saul is really tall, but not particularly bright. His father sends him to find some lost donkeys. For three days, Saul wanders MILES of countryside. When he finally bumps into Samuel, Samuel tells him that the donkeys were found long ago. More importantly, Samuel tells Saul that he will be king. Saul hesitates. And we know his hesitation is justified. If he cannot keep track of a few donkeys, how can he rule a nation?!

Over the next few days, we will follow Saul’s tragic career, David’s incredible rise to power, and the turbulent period of monarchy. But we can already see that the monarchy is a rejection of God, that it will lead to the oppression of the nation, and that the kings will often be hapless!

Fr. Harvey