A King…Like All the Nations (1 Sam. 8)

Michiana Covenant Presbyterian Church

Samuel's sons do not follow in their father's steps.We have seen this problem of the "next generation" before. Eli's sons had become like Canaanite priests – treating the women who served at the tent like prostitutes. Now Samuel's sons become like Canaanite judges – taking bribes and perverting justice.The prophet Jeremiah would say generations later: "Stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16)What does he mean by "the ancient paths"? In the following chapter, Jeremiah warns against thinking of the temple as a magical talisman: "Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'this is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD' (in other words – the same magical thinking as in 1 Samuel 4 – when they thought that the ark would save them...)And yes, Jeremiah is referring to 1 Samuel 4, as he makes clear in Jer 7:11-12 – "Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD. Go now to my place at Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel..."The ancient paths are the ways – the word – and the Law – of the LORD...