Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Samuel became the religious and political leader of Israel. He
cleared the country of pagan gods and defeated the Philistines.
When Samuel became old and was not expected to live much longer,
the elders came to Samuel and requested a king in order to be
like other nations who had a king. Samuel took the request to
Yahweh in prayer and he told Samuel to listen to the people but
to warn them that a king would make them slaves. In spite of
this, the people were determined to have a king so that they
could be like other nations.