Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 8:5-7

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 8:5-7
"And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

Samuel's son were not righteous, but that isn't the only reason the people rejected them. They wanted to be like other nations, that had kings. They wanted to reject the theocracy, and being given direction from God. Samuel warns them about the dangers of kings, but they didn't care. The Lord counsels Samuel to give them what they want, a king, because they have rejected Him. I pondered on how rejecting the government that the Lord setup is a sign of their complete apostasy.

"Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.
For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood.
For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God;
And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness. "
(Mosiah 29:16-17, 21-23)

Day 3826