Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/715

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commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvests and make his implements of war, and the equimpent for his chariots. He will take your daughters for perfumers, for cooks, and for bakers. He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain crops and of your vineyards and give it to his eunuchs and to his servants. Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you on that day!"

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and said:

"No! Let there be a king over us that we also may be like all the pagan nations!"2

The Scripture tells in detail how the king introduced his authority over the Jewish people, and how his successors oppressed the Israelites. Even though God said to the Jews that they are getting what they are asking for, in his love he rebuked the wicked kings through the prophet saying,

Hear now, you princes of the house of Jacob,
and rulers of the house of Israel:
Is it not your place to know justice,
You who hate the good, and love wickedness,
Snatching their skin from upon them,
And their flesh from upon their bones?3

And the people will cry out unto the Lord, but He will not answer them, because they rejected His authority. This is His reward for their preference of a king. The kings, the princes, and all the lords have tasted the power of authority


2 1-Sam. 8: 7–20, AT.

3 Micah 3: 1–4, AT.