The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-07-02

ISRAEL ASKING FOR A KING
For fou hundred years, the He
brews had the most unique form of
in the history of the
a theocracy; There
was no visible chief ruler, no palace,
throne, or scepter, not unless the tab
ernacle should be considered the pal
ace of their unseen and unseeble king.
In point of fact, the ark of the coven
ant was called a throne, and the holy
of holes, a throne room. Hebrew
poetry pictures Jehovah as seated on
the golden wings of the cherubim,
his feet, resting upon the golden lid of
the ark as upon a footstoOl. There
mercy was to be obtained, and so it
was called the mercy seat. There al
so was security. Under the shadow
ofthe wings of the cherubim, on which
Jehovah sat, his people were encour-
aged to trust. The great advantages
of the theocracy for Israel while it
lasted, are apparent in every issue
and incident of national life. But
point of transition had evidently been
reached in the lifetime of the nation.
1t is difficult to say, with any degree
of certainty, to what extent the ideal
of the theocracy had been lived up to.
1t is evident, however, that at this
iuncture, Israel had fallen away from
it. The alleged nepotism of Samuel,
and the oppression of his sons, were
palpable pretexts. The people wan
ted a change. They had perhaps
been ridiculed by their neighbors as
headless nation. They coveted also
the pomp and circumstance of royalty.
Then, too, they were FESTIVE under
the rule of the theocracy, which held
them to the highest ideals of personal
and civic righteousness. The cry was
raised: "A King. like all the nations"
Happily, at this crisis hour, there
stood out the towering personality of
great man and patriot. Samuel
was outraged at the popular demand.
There was no personal element in the
equation. His whole career lifts him
above that suspicion. And the very
fact, that the request was made to
him. is incidental evidence of the es-
TEEN in which he was held. 1t is a
tribute to his power to bring things
to pass. The reason of Samuels dis
pleasure was, that he considered it a
dethroning of God.
One of the wisest things Samue
ever did, in long life packed witt
wisdom, was to take time to pray
In spite of the importantly of the ell
ders and the people, he went apart by
himself awhile. Like Hezekiah at {
late date, he went in before the Lord
and spread the whole matter before
him. He was quiet, and fastened t.
see Wharf.-The Lord would say. H.
waited for orders from headquarters
The asker received, the seeker found
the knocker had the door opened
From his interview with the Divine
Samuel emerged, calm in spirit, clea
in purpose, confident of success.
The change in the form of govern
ment, had the divine sanction. TIL
people had proved themselves unfi
for theocracy. 1t was an ideal t
which they could not attain. Go
would accommodate himself to thei
low leyel, and give them the desire
their hearts. He did not do this, how
ever, without distinct warning of tn
perils involved. All the evils inciden
to royalty in the Orient are vivid
pictured. This is done to set tn
people on their guard, and thus II
duce the danger to a minimum.
The outcome of Samuels wise an
patriotic service, was monarch
like, yet unlike, that of the SURROUND
' ing nations. The ultimate depos
. from the fervent heat of this bloo(
less revolution, was a theocratic mol
archy-God ruling yet, but throug
:; kings of his own selection, and limi
ed by terms which he had prescribe