Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right" – 1 Samuel 12:3

Today's Scripture Reading (April 6, 2022): 1 Samuel 12

Abdication, the voluntary leaving of a nation's throne or significant leadership position, is a relatively rare event. During the history of the British Empire, the actual abdication of a monarch has only happened once; Edward VIII's decision to leave the British throne on December 11, 1936, after reigning as King of the United Kingdom for less than a year, so that he could marry Wallis Simpson. And even then, some might argue that Edward was forced out of his position of King. If it were possible for him to marry Wallis Simpson and reign as the King of the United Kingdom, it seems likely that he would never have left his throne behind. Other monarchs had been forced to leave the throne, but they did not give it up of their own volition, which needs to be considered by anyone who believes that Queen Elizabeth might abdicate in favor of her aging son, Charles. It is not impossible, but abdication by a monarch is increasingly unlikely. This situation might also color the opinion of those who believe that Charles should abdicate the throne once he inherits it in favor of his son William. It just isn't likely to happen.

Samuel stands before Israel. It is an open question whether we could consider this moment the abdication of his leadership duties in Israel or if he was being forced out. We know that Samuel did not entirely support the idea of a monarchy. But he felt that the advent of a monarchy was the will of the people and, more importantly, an idea that God had accepted. By the time Samuel makes this speech, he has already anointed Saul as King. But maybe this is the official moment.

Samuel asks the people to "Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed (Saul)." It is a moment for the people to lay their complaints against Samuel's leadership. But Samuel has been a good leader, and no one has a complaint. The move to a monarchy was not because of Samuel's bad leadership. But Samuel needed to remind them that his time at the helm of the nation had been a positive one. He was not handing the reigns of a country that was in a mess to Saul. The nation was well-ordered. If it did not stay that way, that would be on Saul, not Samuel.

There might have also been a little bit of a backhand reminder to Israel that the presence of a king would make the country a different place than when it was under the administration of a Judge like Samuel. Samuel had not taken from Israel. But a King would take in the form of taxes. Their property would be confiscated to support the national interest, and their men would be conscripted into a national army. What had once been a voluntary gift to Israel would now be mandated. Things would be very different in the realm of a Monarch. Although the taxes required by Solomon, the third King of Israel, seem to have been extreme, the times would not necessarily be bad, but they would be different.   

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 13