“And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel,” 1 Samuel 8:1.
Chapter 8 of 1st Samuel was the reading for today (16.8.25). As is ever the case with Holy Scripture, the occurrences of the past, as recorded by divine inspiration, contain a foreshadowing of future events.
That is implied in Paul’s words in Romans 15. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope,” verse 5.
The past actions of sinful men are but a pattern for the future actions of sinful men. Sin is ever the breaking of the Law of God!
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law,” 1 John 3:4.
God’s Law is unchanging and unchangeable. Therefore man’s transgressing of God’s Law is ever the same in essence. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun,” Ecclesiastes 1:9.
This is what makes the Bible ever relevant! Man’s cures become outdated and ineffective. The ‘vaccines’ produced to deal with the recent Covid virus are not as effective against the new strains of that virus. BUT the Bible, and the gospel message it sets forth, is ever effective, no matter how man thinks he has outgrown his need of salvation by the blood of Christ crucified.
In this chapter 8 of 1st Samuel we are introduced to a dark time in Israel’s history. Yes, it was during the time of a most godly prophet, Samuel, but darkness nevertheless invaded the land and prevailed.
I. IT WAS A DAY OF DISORDER IN GOD’S HOUSE!
“And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD,” 1 Samuel 7:1-2.
The ‘Ark of God’ whereon was the mercy seat, was the means by which prayer was offered to the Lord and it being out of the inner sanctuary, the holy place within the vail, in the Tabernacle, it could not have been approached by the high priest annually and the blood of the sacrificial lamb sprinkled upon it, and thus communion with the Lord maintained.
1. This breach in Israel’s relationship with the Lord was ‘long’ and resulted in Israel ‘lamenting’ after the Lord! A spirit of mourning prevailed amongst the devout Israelites. They desired to see a reinstatement of things as God had ordained. A people living under such spiritual conditions are not a happy, rejoicing, victorious people!
2. The answer to their sorrow was set forth by Samuel. “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines,” 1 Samuel 7:3.
That is the purpose and calling that God’s prophets should have! They should show the way by which a right relationship with God is to be restored and maintained.
Woe unto any people who have not such instruction but rather have ‘careless’ shepherds, who make no efforts to promote repentance and return amongst the straying sheep!
3.There was an evil response to the people acknowledging their sin. “And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh,” verse 6.
That spirit of repentance was noted by the enemy and, as is ever the case, they instantly moved to attack resurgent godliness!
“And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel,” 1 Samuel 7:7-10.
Reoccurrence
Has there not been a reoccurrence of such events time and time again in the experience of the people of God throughout the ages.
“So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel,” 1 Samuel 7:13.
Some of us are old enough to have seen something of such a victory over Ecumenism and Romanism in the sixties and seventies! Those were days when the gospel went forth in power to the converting of sinners and to the confusion of the false prophets!
II. BUT SUCH A TIME OF VICTORY DECAYS BECAUSE OF THE BACKSLIDING AMONGST GOD’S PEOPLE.
1. Even godly Samuel was subject to regression! “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel,” 1 Samuel 8:1.
How could such a wise man act so foolishly and out of character? I do not believe that it was in the remit of even a Samuel to make judges and certainly not to make judges of those most unfit for such an office!
The making of judges was the prerogative of God alone, as was stated at the beginning of the era of the ‘Judges’.
“Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. . . . And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them,” Judges 2:16, 18.
2. The prophet’s folly in appointing his wicked sons shows that even a Samuel can be blind to the sins of his sons! “And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment,” 1 Samuel 8:3.
Why is it good men become blind to the evil lives of their offspring? This was especially a shame for Samuel for he had begun his ministry by pronouncing God’s rebuking of Eli for a similar sin!
“And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever,” 1 Samuel 3:11-14.
How slow are those who know and may even preach God’s Word, to keep themselves from the very sins they condemned in others! David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah — to name but a few — all raised sons who were opposed to all that their fathers stood for and rejoiced in!
That has been repeated in modern times, aye, even in this day within the ranks of the Free Presbyterian Church! Very few parents are prepared to face up to the erring of their children, chiefly because it is a reflection on their failure to train their children in the ‘way they should go’.
Decline
I am no longer circulating amongst congregations as once I did, BUT I do hear it said that the number of young people attending regularly and faithfully at God’s house is declining and often mothers and fathers sit alone while their offspring have forsaken the place of worship.
Recent scandals have highlighted the role of a serving elder on an education body, one of the remits of which is to promote transgenderism amongst school children. Sadly, this was not the first time this man turned aside from obeying the Word of God. Sadly, it would appear that no discipline was exercised by his Session and Minister or by the Presbytery, for he continued in his eldership, the oath of which he had violated.
That exposure was followed by his minister being publicly accused of lying and video evidence, which suggests that there may be grounds for such a serious allegation, have been seen by hundreds if not thousands of people!
There has been no acknowledgment of sin by any involved in this sad episode and no public statement by the officers of Presbytery in response to this serious matter.
All this ,and more, indicates a day of a most sad decline.
3. But such failures as that of Samuel will be exposed. The sins of his sons were brought before Samuel in a very public manner. Their turning aside to “lucre” (love of money, gained by any means) and the taking of “bribes”, and their perverting of “judgment” vexed the people. That being so, the protests mounted. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,” verse 4.
Sin will not remain secret for long. We all should live with this verse ever before our minds and hearts.
“God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel,” Romans 2:16.
There are no secrets kept from the Lord!
4. As is ever the case, man’s remedy is worse than the malady! It might be understood that men thought that the best answer to having corrupt judges in power was “a king to judge us like all the nations,” verse 5. However, it was but another step on the road to rebellion.
It is a sad fact that when those who occupy the divine offices are not what they should be, then people take unwise and unscriptural steps to rectify such, BUT such steps only make the situation worse.
This people who wanted a king were a people who had not been under the teaching of godly judges and consequently were sadly lacking in a knowledge of what was the will of God for that time. Thus they plunged off in the wrong direction to rectify the situation.
Today
I find that such is the case today. Many believers know that things are not what they should be in the Free Presbyterian Church. But as a result of a lack of faithful and bold application of God’s truth against the errors that beset us, many resort to measures that appear to be right, but are not of the Lord and His Word!
The result is a wandering around, seeking help, without the compass and the map of Holy Scripture to show the way! Every so often, I have heard the shout, ‘Oh, I have found a great preacher. He really deals with the issues.’
But all too soon his shortcomings are seen and further disappointment ensues!
That is the picture today!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
Wednesday 20th August 2025.
In part 2 of this study we will consider the prophetic application of this passage.