Long Story Short | The Kings 8.3.25
Deeper Dive — Long Story, Short-The Kings
1 Samuel 8
Recap
Deborah reminded us that the Bible can be read as the story of two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Shalom, where the most honored serve and love, and the kingdom of Empire, where power, wealth, and control are pursued at the expense of others. In 1 Samuel 8, Israel demands a king “like the nations” to lead them into battle. Samuel warns them that kings will take—sons, daughters, fields, wealth—and turn the people into servants. Still, they insist, choosing the way of Empire over trusting God as their King.
From there, Deborah walked us through the story of the kings. Saul falters spiritually, David becomes Israel’s high point but is deeply flawed, and Solomon institutionalizes the very practices God had warned about—forced labor, opulence, and the worship of other gods. The kingdom spirals into division, idolatry, violence, and exile.
Into this history comes Jesus, who announces the Kingdom of God not with military might but as a mustard seed or yeast—something small, slow, and unstoppable. He resists every attempt to make Him a king like the nations and instead models self-giving love, humble service, and radical forgiveness. Deborah challenged us to repent not only of moral failures but of unbelief, hopelessness, and the temptation to secure our lives through the values of Empire. She invited us into the slow work of the Kingdom, trusting that God’s way of love really will win.
Go a Little Deeper
When Israel asked for a king in 1 Samuel 8, it wasn’t just a political shift—it was a theological one. God says to Samuel, “They have rejected me as king.” The repeated verb “take” in Samuel’s warning drives home the point: the logic of Empire is to accumulate by extraction. The Kingdom of Shalom, in contrast, gives life rather than takes it.
Deuteronomy 17 had anticipated Israel’s desire for a king but set clear limits on royal power—restrictions on military buildup, political marriages, and wealth accumulation. The intent was to guard against Empire’s pull, yet Israel’s kings largely ignored these boundaries, especially Solomon. David’s story reminds us that greatness in God’s Kingdom doesn’t come from perfection but from repentance; when confronted with his sin, David’s deepest concern was restoring his relationship with God.
Deborah also unpacked an important perspective on the Kingdom Jesus announced. Rather than a sudden overthrow of Empire, Jesus taught that the Kingdom grows slowly and quietly alongside the kingdoms of this world until the day when God’s justice and peace are fully realized. This “already and not yet” reality calls us to patient, faithful living. In His ministry, Jesus resisted the tactics of Empire—refusing coercive power, rejecting violence, and entrusting the work to His Spirit-filled followers who would serve, forgive, and love even their enemies.
Conversation Questions
Where do you feel the pull to be “like the nations”—to secure life by control, image, or influence?
Read 1 Samuel 8:10–18. What forms of “take” do you notice in our culture—and in your own habits?
Deuteronomy 17 places limits on royal power. What limits or rhythms help you resist Empire (Sabbath, simplicity, confession, budgeting, screens)?
What would repentance look like this week if it meant moving from anxiety/control to trust/service?
Where have you seen slow, hidden Kingdom growth—in you, our church, or our city?
Who is hard for you to pray for right now, and what would you ask God to give them?
A Practice to Try
Two-week “Our Father” experiment:
Daily Prayer (2x/day): Pray Matthew 6:9–13 as written, then pray it personalized, one line at a time (e.g., “Your kingdom come in my meetings today… in our neighborhood…”).
Enemy Prayer: Name one person who frustrates, opposes, or hurts you. Ask God to give them the good you long for yourself.
A Prayer to Pray
God of Shalom, you are our true King.
Loosen our grip where we cling to control.
Plant your Kingdom in us—seed and yeast—
so that our power becomes service,
our fear becomes trust,
and our enemies become people we bless.
By your Spirit, make us a people who pray, forgive, and love—
until the earth is filled with your peace. Amen.
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