These first 16 chapters tell of a key transition in the history of Israel: the transition from judges to kings. A judge was a leader who was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Their leadership could include military leadership, as was often the leadership demanded in those times; the figurehead role of being the voice of the people to other nations; and sharing wisdom, both in daily living and deciding disputes. This was distinct from the priesthood, priests from the tribe of Levi, who were anointed to carry out sacrifices as per the Law of Moses. The kingship, on the other hand, was to be leadership handed down from father to son.
It wasn't one person deciding that they wanted to be king. Rather, the people clamoured for the chief priest, Samuel, to appoint a king over them. Why did they want a king? One thing could be stability, since the hereditary nature allows the centralisation of the nation's wealth, rather than the ad hoc nature of a judge picked for their lifetime. But the main reason given in scripture is that they want to be like the other nations. "Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations" (1 Sam 8:5). They wanted to fit in, to be '"normal". But God's plan for Israel was not to be like all the other nations, but to be a holy and distinct nation. The leader of this nation would be God himself, and on earth, those filled by God's Spirit. And God's Spirit can not simply be passed down from father to son, like the title of King can be. Throughout this book, we see that godly as the men (the priests) may be, it does not guarantee that their sons will also be. Both Eli's sons and Samuel's sons are worthless, evil, showing contempt for God and God's sacrifices. The 'God bit' of leadership can not simply be tacked on to the rest, or used as a good luck charm. The Israelites tried to drag God onto their side, taking the Ark of the Covenant into battle hoping its presence would ensure God was on their side. But God is not on any person's side; rather people must get themselves onto his side. The people of Israel rejected God as their king by asking for a human king.
Samuel's story could be summed up in one word (if that's what we need to do) as the Listener. Samuel really listens to God and knows his voice. This starts from a young age. He is the answer to a barren woman's desperate prayer and set apart for God's service from birth. In this way he is similar to Samson. At first Samuel did not know God's voice, mistaking it for that of Eli, but once he learns that it is God speaking, he answers him "Speak, for your servant hears" (1 Sam 3:10). As he grew (1 Sam 2:26), he continues to hear, and grew in favour with God and with men (parallels with Jesus, Luke 2:52). So God 'let none of his words fall to the ground" (1 Sam 3:19). Hearing from God, Samuel was able to wisely judge Israel. He also listened to Israel, and heard their cry for a king. He did not follow them blindly, but listened and obeyed God, who acquiesced to their demand.
The challenge from this passage is to listen closely to God, rather than simply wanting what everyone else wants. Speak God, for your servant hears.
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