1 Samuel 8 - The King We Want vs. The King We Need

Jesus, the true King, offers the salvation we need rather than the solutions we demand.
Subscribe for more Gospel-Centered content: @RinconMountainPresbyterian

Watch this next: https://youtu.be/92KOKvEdKbk?si=A2IS2FKV57uNHgTP

--
Join us Sunday Morning
Worship at 10a
8445 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson AZ 85749

Contact us:
(520)-327-2390
[email protected]
https://www.rinconpres.org/
--
Sermon Notes:

Main Point: Israel sought a human king to solve their problems, but they truly needed a Savior.

I. Humanity’s Diagnosis and Prescription (1 Samuel 8:1-5)
Israel’s Crisis in Leadership

As Samuel aged, he appointed his corrupt sons as judges. This led Israel's elders to conclude they needed a king to rule over them and resolve their issues.
The Elders’ Request: “Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
Application for Us

When facing challenges, our first response is often to seek human solutions, mirroring Israel’s desire for a king to secure stability.
II. God’s Diagnosis and Response (1 Samuel 8:6-9)
God’s View of Israel’s Request

Samuel, distressed by the request, seeks God, who explains that Israel’s desire for a king reflects their ongoing rejection of Him.
God’s Diagnosis: Israel’s real problem is not a lack of leadership but a lack of loyalty to Him. Their history reveals a cycle of rebellion against His rule.
Israel’s Repeated Rebellion

Despite God’s continual guidance since the Exodus, Israel repeatedly turned to idols and foreign gods.
Application for Us

God sees past our outward requests and behaviors, discerning the heart. Like Israel, our issues often stem from placing our trust in worldly solutions instead of in God.
III. God’s Judgment in Giving Israel a King (1 Samuel 8:10-18)
Samuel’s Warning to Israel

Samuel explains the nature of a human king: he will take and demand. Sons will be drafted, land seized, and resources taxed heavily.
Repeated Word: “Take.” The king will not serve the people; they will serve him.
God’s Judgment by Allowing Israel’s Request

By granting Israel a king, God allows them to experience the consequences of rejecting His rule. He warns they will cry out under the burden of their king, but He will not answer.
Application for Us

Placing ultimate hope in human leaders leads to disappointment and oppression. True peace and deliverance come from God king who serves and sacrifices rather than one who takes.
IV. Israel’s Defiant Response (1 Samuel 8:19-22)
Israel Rejects God’s Warnings

Despite Samuel’s warnings, Israel persists, demanding a king “like all the nations.”
God’s Patience: Though rejected, God allows Israel to have what they desire, marking it as judgment yet continuing His redemptive plan.
Application for Us

Often, God’s most severe judgment is to let us have what we demand. We, like Israel, may fail to understand that God’s guidance and limitations are given for our good.
V. Jesus: The King We Need
The Problem with Human Kings

Throughout Israel’s history, human kings failed to address the core issue: sin. The cycle of rebellion revealed the need for a savior, not merely a ruler.
Jesus as Savior-King

Jesus came without earthly power or political influence, embodying a kingdom built on service and sacrifice, not on taking and conquest.
Contrasting Responses: While Israel demanded a king to fight their battles, Jesus fought the ultimate battle through His death and resurrection, saving us from sin’s true power.
Application for Us

Jesus, the true King, offers the salvation we need rather than the solutions we demand. Trusting in Him means rejecting idols of political or personal power and relying on His sacrifice for deliverance.

Скачать видео