August 7, 2023

Bind My Wandering Heart to Thee

1 Samuel 8

Teresa Krejci
Monday's Devo

August 7, 2023

Monday's Devo

August 7, 2023

Monday's Devo

August 7, 2023

Monday's Devo

August 7, 2023

Big Idea

Outward appearances can be deceiving. God looks at the heart.

Key Verse | 1 Samuel 8:6-7

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them."

1 Samuel 8

Israel Demands a King

1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

Samuel's Warning Against Kings

10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men 1 8:16 Septuagint cattle and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

The LORD Grants Israel's Request

19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

Footnotes

[1] 8:16 Septuagint cattle

S2:151 1 Samuel 8

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Dive Deeper | 1 Samuel 8

If you have been consistently following along on The Journey this year, you've no doubt, like me, become frustrated with Israel's chronic unfaithfulness to God, despite God's persistent faithfulness to them.

God called Israel out from the other nations and made them His treasured possession among all peoples (Exodus 19:5). They were treasured by God, but instead of living up to their treasured status, they settled for their flesh's desire to be like all the other nations. They demanded an earthly king to judge them, to go out before them, and to fight their battles. In their desire to have a king like other nations, they disregarded that the Lord had faithfully been going before them, carrying them, and fighting their battles since they became His (Deuteronomy 1:30-31).

Before God gave them what they desired, He mercifully warned them and gave them a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). He warned them that the king would take and take and take and take and take. His warning should have caused them to stop and remember all that God had been to them, all He had given to them, and all He had done for them, but their relentless desire clouded their true need for the one true and faithful King to reign in their lives. They rejected God's reign and lordship over their lives for a king of their own desire. 

When reading this passage, lyrics from Robert Robinson's 18th century hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," come to mind:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love.

Those words are a heart-piercing reminder that I am just like Israel. I love the Lord, but I am so very prone to wander from Him; like each one of us, it is in my nature to do so. Every single day is a battle to resist the temptation to follow the ways of the world, surrender my desires, and instead turn to Him for His full reign in my life.

Oh Lord, "Bind my wandering heart to thee."

This month's memory verse

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

– Mark 10:45

Discussion Questions

1. Are you one of God's treasured possessions? If you believe and put your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of God's Son, Jesus, you are indeed one of the King of Kings' treasured possessions. 

2. Israel's history serves as an example that our hearts cannot share space with God and worldly pursuits. What things, people, ideas, or attitudes of the world are taking God's rightful place in your life? Are you equipped with godly tools to resist the temptations of the world? If you need to fill your tool box, join us at Equipped Disciple!

3. I encourage you to look up the complete lyrics to "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and prayerfully sit with and consider the words of this great hymn.

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

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Michael Sisson

Re: 1Sam 8:1-3,5 Did men like Eli and Samuel simply have blind spots where their sons were concerned, or did their love for their sons simply cloud their judgement in seeing them as worthy successors? Even today, the experience of my youth suggests MK’s and PK’s, deservedly or not, carry a bit of a reputation. Now, as a parent, it seems a frightful, potential cost of following one’s call to ministry, and more than reason enough for us to pray for our leaders. See also 1Sam 2:12,22-25. Re: 1Sam 8:7 1Sam 8:7 (NASB) The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for >>>they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.<<< In my view, >>>this verse hints at one of the more powerful arguments for the divinity of the Messiah.<<< G-d did not abdicate His kingship when he permitted Saul's coronation. G-d eventually reasserted His own sovereignty when He installed His anointed, David (in whose loins was the Messiah), as king over a people who despised His kingship and His sovereignty (see also Lk 19:14). However, when He enthroned David, He enthroned Messiah "Son of David," the descendant of David. Thus, 1Sam 8:7 supports the deity of Messiah. >>>For permanently (2Sa 7:16; Ps 89:3,4; Isa 9:7; Je 33:17; Da 2:44; 7:14,27; Mi 4:7; Lk1:33; Heb 1:8) enthroning a Messiah who is NOT G-d the Son would also be, in essence, a rejection of G-d as King, just as enthroning Saul had been.<<< Most (not all) Jews will dispute the Son of David’s divinity. However, there was, is, and ever shall be only One King of the Jews. (See Mt 2:2; Mt 27:37; Jn 18:33-37; Jn 19:21) In that foundational truth is the very authority behind the suzerainty treaty that is the Torah. G-d will never abdicate His kingship, not even to step aside for the Son of David. Therefore, G-d the Son best resolves the tension between 1Sam 8:7 and Jer 33:17. Jeremiah 33:17 (NASB) “For thus says the LORD, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;” Re: 1Sam 8:10-18 It’s worth noting this (1Sam 8:10-18) is NOT a harsher standard than G-d, the King of the Universe, requires of His subjects. Re: 1Sam 8:19 1Sam 8:19 (NASB) Nevertheless, >>>the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel<<<, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, This is another link in the chain of events in Israel rejects G-d, the approach of His Despised Messiah, His progenitors, and those who herald His will and approach (Num 24:17). See also “Hear, O Israel!” in the Shema (Dt 6:4-5). Re: 1Sam 8:20 1Sam 8:20 (NASB) that we also may be like all the nations, >>>that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”<<< They had this already in G-d, but chose a deeply flawed, flesh and blood substitute instead.
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Hugh Stephenson

Good morning, Teresa. THANK YOU for a beautiful devo. I love that hymn. Heart-piercing is the right term for what happened when I pierce it. Q1. Yes, I am His treasured possession. Among the greatest blessing ever is that He showed me the depth and breadth of my sin so that the blood of Christ became so powerful that I could finally see the truth of my worth and my unworthiness. Please watch this from Shane and Shane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6U7O5tZk14 Q2. Godly tools? Yes. They need constant sharpening because I seem to be in constant temptation. Among the most useful is worship music. Q3. I have come to know them by heart and they are a regular reminder.
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Hugh Stephenson

Pre-snap penalties, bird dogs and prodigal children. What’s the best form of government? Many years ago I was taught that it was a benevolent dictatorship. We even explained that to our kids as a parenting model . Heads nodded. Hearts unmoved. Autocracy is related to dictatorship but is very unlikely to be “benevolent”. Theocracy could be…but it depends on the “Theos”. Mob-ocracy is when everyone HAS their own “Theos” or IS their own “Theos. Humans want some sense of order and direction so this form doesn’t seem to last long, (see also Judges). Meritocracy is when everyone gets what they “deserve”. Plutocracy is when the rich people decide everything. Which one do we have in the US today? Worth discussing. What I’ve been taught is that God has a perfect design for each and every form of human relationship. Including the relationship between the government and the people. Guess who is in charge? It’s not us. The notes indicate a plausible posit that David was always going to be THE KING, the man after God’s own heart; (1 Samuel 13:14). But the Israelites committed a pre-snap penalty, aka an unforced error. They wanted a king NOW! The great phrase that I think beautifully describes sin is, “I want what I want when I want it.” Why is this “beautiful? “What I want” is not what God wants, usually. “When I want” means I want it now, (a workable definition of lust, regardless of the object.). In mercy, God does not run on the field with a striped shirt and a whistle and throw the flag. He says they can have “what they want when they want it”. Then he turns to Head Coach Samuel and tells him to make sure he tells them the full measure of what they’re asking for, (see Ezekiel 33:1-9 for a great example.)
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Hugh Stephenson

OK. What about bird dogs? Have you ever seen a skilled hunter work a beloved bird dog in the field? The hunter has spent countless hours over many years training the dog to do what it is PERFECTLY suited to do by its very nature. The two happiest beings on that hunt are the hunter and the dog. If you’ve seen this you know EXACTLY what I mean. If you really want to see the depth of love, then sit with that hunter, who has raised and trained that dog, when it’s time to put it down. You’ll see a strong, grown man weep like a small child. God is like that man. I want to be like that dog. Perfectly loved. Perfectly trained. Perfectly obedient. The problem is I also want what I want when I want it. Decades of getting just that did not turn out well. Same for my prodigal children when they went sideways. The key to all of this is that there are no “do-overs”. God does not shield me from the consequences of my own sinful decisions. Even so, He can choose to be merciful. Isaiah 41:10 is a favorite verse. From the notes- "This chapter is among the most significant in the historical books of the Old Testament, marking the transition from judgeship to kingship in ancient Israel."[188] In this section and the next (chs. 13—15), the writer skillfully contrasted the blessing that comes as a result of obeying God's will with the cursing that comes from disobedience. Chapters 8—12 are generally positive and record Saul's successes. The section opens and closes with Samuel giving a warning to the Israelites. "Alas, how many once bright Christians have been spoiled through wanting to be like the people of the world around, even as did Israel in demanding a human king! And how insidious is the temptation to lean on that which is seen and human instead of resting in the invisible God! It is a temptation to which we are all prone; but to yield to it invites a harvest of regrets."[200]
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Sue Bohlin

What a wonderful devo, Teresa! You're a great writer. Loved how you invoked "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing" right after Katherine's devo on Friday, and loved how you pointed out that a human king would take and take and take and take and take--as opposed to God as The King Who Gives--and gives and gives and gives and gives. (In the past few years I have learned to note the contrast between taking and giving in the scriptures, starting with creation in Genesis. Whoa.) Today's passage caused a couple of heart pangs. First, the sadness of such a godly man as Samuel having two prodigal sons. Dr. C points out that the author of 1 Samuel doesn't blame Samuel for his sons' ungodliness as he does with Eli. I'm thinking of several friends who are godly men whose children--raised in loving, Christ-honoring homes--have turned their backs on Jesus. Absolutely heartbreaking, as I'm sure it was for Samuel. Second, the Israelites' desire to be like the nations around them, wanting more than God had provided for them. As was pointed out to me from Genesis 3, Eve had total perfection and it wasn't enough. The advent of social media has elevated this brokenness to new levels; it's so easy to open our souls to an unrelenting stream of unattainable false images of false Edens that feed our desire to have something other than what God has provided. Oh Lord. Please help us see the goodness of what You have chosen to provide for us, and help us choose contentment through gratitude for those things.
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Michael Scaman

Sad that Samuel's son's took bribes. Exodus says a bribe corrupts the hear. in Ex 23:8 and Proverbs 17:8-12 Would a king be a guarantee of no corruption? not necessarily. One one level asking for a King is a rejection of the Kingship of God and a fallen human king could be problematic in many ways. Saul's heart was puffed up and became self serving and not God centered. On the other hand the law of Moses allows for a king (not a queen but a king) and Hebrews speaks of the law as a picture of heavenly realities. The earthly king writes a copy of the law. The heavenly king , Jesus, writes his laws on the hearts of His people. Having a king will set the stage for a promise to David, the man after God's heart, of a King who will be a true shepherd and an eternal king.
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Jason Cromwell

If I thought the line from Judges floored me this line here has to be the saddest in the entire Bible and how many times have I said it in my own life? "We want to be just like everyone else" What a heartbreaking line. Instead of standing out as God's beloved and treasured jewel they just wanted to be like everyone else. Today's Chapter is so heartbreaking as a Christian. As we say in Church lingo, "This one really steps on my toes." I don't know about you as for me I wanna stand out as God's beloved and treasured possession. No more trying to be just like everyone else.
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Amy Lowther

1. Of course, each human on this earth is a treasured possession of God. 2. Respecting God ensures everything is possible. I am equipped with God’s words from the Bible and God’s words from service on Sunday. They help me resist temptations. 3. Prayer: God, thank you for the opportunity to remember you and think of your good values. May each of us use your values wisely everyday. Amen.
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Kathy Hempel Cox

Beautiful reminder for my own heart not to be prideful as I remember the many times my own heart it prone to wander. Thank you