Behold Our King: the books of 1 and 2 Samuel

Making Compromises — Study Questions
1 Samuel 8:1–22

Paul J. Bucknell

The study of 1 Samuel 8 offers valuable insights into why God’s people often find themselves in less-than-ideal circumstances. What about your life? Have you somehow compromised? Have you insisted on some matter and just now realized that what you thought would be better actually caused more concern?

1. Rejection of the Lord (1 Samuel 8:1-9)

8:1 And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 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. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day-in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods-so they are doing to you also. 9 Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them." (1 Samuel 8:1-9; NASB).
  1. What actions did Samuel take when he grew old (1 Samuel 8:1)? Why did he do so?
  2. How did the people react to Samuel's decision to do this (8:4-5)?
  3. What are one or two reasons why the people did this (8:2-3)? Was this a good thing?
  4. Why do you think Samuel was displeased with the people’s request for a king (8:6)?
  5. How did Samuel handle his disappointment with the people (8:6)? *How do you manage your reactions when things don’t go your way?
  6. Why might the elders have another reason for requesting Samuel to find a king (8:20)?
  7. Why was God so upset with the people’s request for a king? Also, read Deuteronomy 17:14-20.
  8. * Are you ever tempted to believe that the ways of the world are better than God’s? Provide an example. What are the consequences of these compromises? Include an example.

2) Consequences for One's Choices (1 Samuel 8:9-18)

“8:10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked of him a king. 11 He said, “This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
They will find hardship due to the king and call out to the Lord, but He will not hear. 13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. “15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys, and use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:10-18, NASB unless noted).
  1. What are the two things the Lord told Samuel to do (8:9)?
  2. What actions did Samuel take starting in verse 11 (8:11-18)?
  3. Why might the Lord have Samuel tell the people what the king would be like? (1 Samuel 8:9)
  4. List at least ten consequences of choosing a king (8:11-18).
  5. Which consequence would upset you the most?
  6. List three situations where a person chooses to follow the way of the world without fully considering the consequences (e.g., sex before marriage - disease and broken relationships).
  7. Do you think that we can return to God after choosing our foolish ways? Read 1 Samuel 8:18, 1 John 1:9, and respond. What would you recommend to a friend seeking to come back to the Lord?

3) Insistent on One's Own Ways (1 Samuel 8:19-22)

The Israelites refused to listen to the Lord and demanded to have a king. Samuel told the Lord, and so the Lord told Samuel that they could have a king.

“19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to 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, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the LORD’S hearing. 22 The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city” (1 Samuel 8:19-22).
  1. How did people react to Samuel's listing of the high costs of having a king (8:19-20)?
  2. If having a king was so bad, why did the Lord allow them to have one? (8:9,22).
  3. What should a parent do when a child insists on having something that will cause problems in the long run?

Conclusion and Application

Compromise often occurs through deception. Discuss what happened in the Garden of Eden. Were Adam and Eve satisfied? Why did they eat the fruit? Why did the Israelites compromise here? Seek protection from desiring things that the Lord does not provide.