“Adonai said to Sh’mu’el, ‘Do what they ask, and set up a king for them.’ So Sh’mu’el told the men of Israel, ‘Each of you, return to his city.'”-1 Samuel 8:22
The decision has been settled.
Israel will get a king…
And it will be a king in the pattern of the gentile nations.
So God tells Samuel to immediately get the ball rolling on the matter.
In verse 22 He says “Do what they ask, and set up a king for them“…
Now concerning the part where it says “Do what they ask”.
The King James Version says…
“Hearken unto their voice,
and make them a king.”
The NIV says…
“Listen to them and
give them a king.”
The original Hebrew word here is one I’m sure you’re well familiar with.
It is SHEMA.
Probably the most famous verse of all in which this word appears is:
“Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God
is one Lord:”
-Deuteronomy 6:4
But remember this word doesn’t just mean “to listen” or “to hear”…
It means to “listen AND OBEY“…
Or to “hear AND FOLLOW THROUGH“…
The meaning of this key Hebrew word also represents the biggest mindset difference between Christianity and Judaism.
One has been called the religion of the creed (Christianity)…
The other has been called the religion of the deed (Judaism).
Of course, Judaism is far more in line with what Scripture really says…
Because it doesn’t matter what you inwardly believe…
If your outward actions don’t reflect your beliefs…
Your beliefs mean nothing.
So that’s one takeaway I’m getting for today.
The other takeaway is notice how Samuel took immediate action once it was clear the direction had been set for Israel to have a king.
He knew it was futile to belabor the point and argue with the Lord on the matter.
So he quickly sent the delegation of tribal leaders who visited him back to their respective areas to await God’s choice of who would be Israel’s first King…
We also should do the same and not dilly dally when given a clear direction from the Lord.
And I’m gonna call that a wrap!
Shabbat Shalom everybody.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“But someone will say,
‘You have faith,
and I have works.
” Show me your faith
without your works,
and I will show you
my faith by my works.'”
-James 2:18
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN 1 SAMUEL CHAPTER NINE
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