Submission vs. Acquiescence

by Chadwick Brewer

“And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (I Samuel 10:24).

Samuel was the judge of Israel for most of his life. Now that he was old, the people demanded a king. From the text (I Samuel 8:7), it appears that Samuel felt rejected by their request. He did not want Israel to have a king. He knew the consequences of appointing one because God had revealed them to him (I Samuel 8:10-18). However, Samuel obeyed when God commanded him to appoint a king of His choosing.

But Samuel’s obedience and acquiescence did not end there. He went on to support Saul in his kingship, helping him and encouraging the people to follow him. Despite Samuel’s reluctance, he did as God commanded and then worked to uphold that decree.

Often, we acquiesce to a command but then work to undermine the decision—sometimes out of a desire to prove that our ideas were right or to get our way. However, we must be people who not only obey but also support the decisions made through our ongoing actions. This principle applies to children toward their parents, wives toward their husbands, congregations toward their elders, and Christians toward Christ.