Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. Then his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to the LORD...Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 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." 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. 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.*
Samuel went back to the people with a warning. He told them that a king would tax them harshly, and would take their daughters and sons as servants and soldiers. Samuel said they would:
...cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves...*
Israel was the first nation to have God as their King. Now they have rejected God for a human king. In the future many of their kings will lead them in the wrong direction and they will suffer. The good news is today you have a choice of who will control your life. You can have God as your King if you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Then you will be a part of a wonderful kingdom that has no end.
Special Note: The Old Testament will refer to the descendents of Jacob who were slaves in Egypt as: My people, Hebrews, Sons of Israel, Children of Israel, Israel, Israelites and Jews.
1 Samuel 7:15-17, 8:18 (NASB)
Lesson Questions for the Full Story:
Content: Yo!, Youth Outreach, Youth
Outreach, Children's Devotionals,
Children's Bible Devotionals, Children's Daily
Devotionals, Children's Bible Lessons, Children's
Bible Stories, Children's Missionary Stories,
Children's Bible Verses, Children's Scripture Memory,
Devotionals for Youth, Bible Devotionals for Youth,
Daily Devotionals for Youth, Bible Lessons for Youth,
Bible Stories for Youth, Missionary Stories for Youth,
Bible Verses for Youth, Scripture Memory for Youth,
The Gospel, The Good News, The Gospel of Lord Jesus
Christ, New Testament Stories, Old Testament Stories,
Jesus, God's only begotten Son, Stories of Jesus,
Jesus Parables, Born Again, The way the truth and the
life, God's love, Everlasting life, The Father the Son
and the Holy Spirit, The Holy Ghost, The Everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace, The bright and morning
star, God so loved the world, yoroom
