God’s Concession Speech
1 Samuel 8
This past Tuesday and Wednesday the world watched as Americans went to the polls to exercise their constitutional right to vote. After 7pm, the candidates running for office who did not receive a majority of the popular votes conceded to their opponent by giving a speech. For the record, to concede means to confess, admit as being true, or to acknowledge defeat. Though Kerry and Daschle both gave concession speeches they weren’t the first, nor will they be the last. In the pages of scripture, God too gave a concession speech. One might say that He prefaced His speech in Genesis when He said, “His Spirit will not always strive with man.” In our text, God was no longer popular with the people. The people felt as if He was irrelevant and unable to meet their needs as they advanced as a nation. Within the walls of our text, God, having lost the popular vote, and failed to secure the electoral votes conceded by giving a speech through His former running mate, the Honorable Prophet Samuel. The first thing we notice in our text is:
I. The Problem (found in vs. 1-3)
a. The prophet Samuel appointed his two sons to become judges over Israel. It seems as if Samuel was trying to create a dynasty. He placed his sons in a position where they were charged with judging all the people righteously instead they had some favorites. Samuel was a godly man, yet his children went astray. But you can’t be in a position of leadership, claiming to be on God’s side, all the while judging with partiality.
b. The Bible says that they, “turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.” In other words they only supported those who would make them wealthy. If you didn’t have any money, or any high-ranking social status then you were, unfortunately, oppressed in the name of God.
i. You can be in a position of favor, and receive blessings, yet be out of favor with God. These two used their religious positions, backed by the name of God to gain political and material advantages. They gave perks to the wealthy. And if you had a problem with those in power, Joel and Abijah were bought off by the corporate powers that be, so you didn’t have a fighting chance.
c. Many confess God but do not serve God. And the last time my Bible defined authority the picture was clear that you had to be a servant leader to all the people.
II. The People (vs. 4-5)
a. The Bible teaches that when the blind leads the blind they all fall into the ditch. Here we see in verse four that the elders of the people, the senate and the house, came together and told Samuel that they wanted a king like all the other nations, because his sons were not walking with God. They saw an opportunity to pursue their mandate because of the failures and mistakes of others-minimizing God!
b. They were elders, and instead of them using their influence to unite the people, they sold the people a lie damaging their unique relationship with God.
i. This teaches us that neither the leaders nor the people were praying and seeking God. Then they were trying to get from a man what they had with God. According to verse 20, they wanted a king who would fight for them and lead to them “vigorously” toward victory.
c. No doubt, because they were a ‘civil religious nation,’ they probably thought they were doing the right thing, by suppressing the poor and disadvantage and demanding that they have a leader who would further their program. Now let us examine:
III. The Prophet (vs. 6-9)
a. The Bible says that the matter displeased Vice-President Samuel. But instead of protesting and picketing the fact that he was in the minority, Samuel prayed and called on the Lord. You have to understand my brothers and sisters that though your numbers are small in Washington, you can still call on God whose more than the whole world against you.
b. Samuel prayed because he feared for the future of his nation. He wasn’t being non-patriotic because he went against the status quo no Samuel was in love with his country and Loved His God.
c. The Lord told Samuel, don’t take it personal, now that you have to succumb to their wishes. In fact God said, “they are not rejecting you, but they are rejecting Me.” That’s a word for the child of God who would speak for God. Many times it will seem as if you are being rejected when in reality God is being rejected.
i. God said, "the people don’t want Me as King!" God said every since they came out of Egypt they have done nothing but forsake me and serve other gods. It’s time for Me to concede. It’s time for me to admit that they don’t want me anymore. Don’t fight them Samuel I’m going to give them what they want.
ii. He said, tell them the procedures for having a king. This leads us to our next point.
IV. The Permission (vs. 10-18)
a. Understand today that just because God permits some rulers to be in authority does not mean that he approves of them. In fact PS. 103, can be tied to this text because it shows how people can want something so bad that God gives in not to bless them but to chastise them. He does it to restore His wayward children.
b. Vice-President Samuel stood before the leaders and the people and uttered God’s Concession Speech.
i. He told them in verse 11, that the King would take your sons and place them in front of his chariots. Chariots were used in battles. The fact that he says take indicates that that they didn’t volunteer, but was drafted. If the war in Iraq continues, and God does not intervene through the support of the international community then there might be a draft.
ii. He told them in verse 12, that the king would have many people to do his plowing and to reap his harvest. In other words you’ll work harder, and more hours and see less of your wages.
iii. Again in verse twelve Samuel prophetically tells the people that the new king will build up his military, by appointing commanders in key positions. That’s where the money will be going!
iv. He said in verse 12, that the sons of the nation will make weapons of war, indicating that the king/president will have war on his mind.
v. He said in verse 14, that he will take the best of your fields and give them to his servants. In other words he will use the people not only to make himself wealthy, but his friends wealthy.
vi. Verse 15, states that he will take "a tenth of your seed," in 17, "your flocks," until you have to borrow in order to survive ultimately becoming his servants. In other words he’s going to institute higher taxes!
vii. Then the Lord said you will cry out and He will not listen. The people refused to listen to the prophet and still demanded a specific leader.
But I’m glad that we can still look to the Hills from whence comes our Help.
For the Bible teaches that God had a contingency plan. One day He would send his Son, into the world and become King. Isaiah prophesied about that day when He wrote; “for unto to us a child is born, a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government there shall be no end. “
This prophetic word came to past in Luke when Christ was born: The angels cried out saying, “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men.”
And God told me to tell you the words of Paul 1 Thess. 5:3 “While they say peace and safety! Then destruction will come upon the earth…and there will be no escape.” In other words, there is no plan for peace, accept through Jesus Christ.
When the Lord establishes His Kingdom there will be:
1. Universal Health Care
a. We will be given glorified bodies.
2. Universal Equality
a. All men will be treated the same
3. Universal Peace
a. We’ll lay down our swords to study war no more!
4. Universal Wealth
a. Mansions in the sky
b. Walk the streets of gold.
And we’ll be able to sing free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last.
KeithShuler@aol.com
