Irony of Samuel’s sons
Reading for May 3, 2024
1 Samuel 7-8
Luke 22:47-71
Psalm 106:34-48
Proverbs 22:6-10
Click here for today's full Bible reading verses (from BibleGateway.com)
Commentary
1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah. 5 They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make 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.”
(1 Samuel 8:1-6)
It is ironic that like Eli’s sons, Samuel’s sons were also wicked. And like Eli, Samuel placed his sons in positions of power despite their lack of character. This created a stumbling block, causing the people to ask for a king.
What if Samuel had chosen people of integrity to be judges rather than his sons? Could we have avoided this path of kings? God did not desire the people to have earthly kings.
Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 7 Yahweh 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.
The lesson is that anyone can fall into temptation. Samuel of all people should have known that just because it’s your kids, it doesn’t mean they should necessarily take over your job. Where was God in the decision making? Samuel prays to God when the people ask for a king, but did he pray about his sons as judges? Samuel had a blind spot that he chose not to address.
Father, let us be humble, knowing we are all susceptible to temptation. Help us find counsel to guard our blind spots. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.