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Blessèd are you, Sovereign God, ruler of the nations,
to you be glory and praise for ever!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
As the Sun of Righteousness dawns in our hearts,
anoint our lips with the seal of your Spirit
that we may witness to your gospel
and sing your praise in all the world,
Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of Life:
Blessèd be God for ever!
Old Testament Reading - Israel Demands a King
4Finally the leaders of Israel met in Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5They told him that since his retirement things hadn’t been the same, for his sons were not good men.
“Give us a king like all the other nations have,” they pleaded. 6Samuel was terribly upset and went to the Lord for advice.
7“Do as they say,” the Lord replied, “for I am the one they are rejecting, not you — they don’t want me to be their king any longer.
10So Samuel told the people what the Lord had said:
11“If you insist on having a king, he will conscript your sons and make them run before his chariots." 12some will be made to lead his troops into battle, while others will be slave laborers; they will be forced to plow in the royal fields and harvest his crops without pay, and make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13He will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his friends. 15He will take a tenth of your harvest and distribute it to his favorites.
16He will demand your slaves and the finest of your youth and will use your animals for his personal gain. 17He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18You will shed bitter tears because of this king you are demanding, but the Lord will not help you.”
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning.
“Even so, we still want a king,” they said, 20“for we want to be like the nations around us. He will govern us and lead us to battle.”
21So Samuel told the Lord what the people had said, 22and the Lord replied again, “Then do as they say and give them a king.”
So Samuel agreed and sent the men home again.
. . . . .1 Sam 8:4-7,10-22Confession
Almighty and merciful God,
we have sinned against you,
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with all our heart.
We have not loved others
as our Saviour Christ loves us.
We are truly sorry.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
