First Samuel 8 records the moment Israel formally rejected God as their king and demanded a human monarch. The elders gathered at Ramah, made their demand, and Samuel warned them exactly what it would cost.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

When Samuel was old He made his sons judges over Israel But his sons didn’t walk in his ways They turned away after dishonest gain

All the elders of Israel gathered together Came to Samuel at Ramah Behold, you are old, they said And your sons don’t walk in your ways

Now make us a king To judge us like all the nations We want to be like all the nations We want a king to fight our battles

But this thing displeased Samuel They had rejected him But they had rejected me, the LORD said They have rejected me as king over them

Male: Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you Female: We want a king, a king, a king Male: For they have not rejected you, they have rejected me Female: Like all the nations, like all the nations

They have forsaken me and served other gods So they also do to you Listen to their voice But you shall protest solemnly to them

This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you He will take your sons and appoint them He will take your daughters to be perfumers He will take your fields and your vineyards

He will take one tenth of your seed He will take one tenth of your flocks You will become his servants You will cry out in that day

The people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel We want a king over us That we also may be like all the nations That our king may judge us and go out before us

Samuel heard all the words of the people Rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD The LORD said, Listen to their voice Make them a king

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1 Samuel 8 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press