Monite 11 Fepueli 2019

Ko Tevita mo Kolaiate – ‘Oku ikuna ‘a Sihova!

David & Goliath – God wins!

1 SAMIUELA 17-18 (1 SAMUEL 17-18)

VEESI LAULOTO: 2 TIMOTE 1:7

He naʻe ʻikai foaki ʻe he ʻOtua kiate kitautolu ʻae laumālie ʻo e manavasiʻi; ka ko e mālohi, mo e ʻofa, mo e loto fakapotopoto (Uesi/West)

MEMORY VERSES: 2 TIMOTHY 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (NKJV)

Ko e talanoa ‘o Tevita mo Kolaiate ko e taha ia he ngaahi talanoa ‘iloa taha ‘i he Tohitapu.  Na’e poletau ‘a Ha’a Filisitia ki he fa’ahi ‘a ‘Isileli ke veipa ‘a e ongo semipione ‘i he ongo pule’anga ko ‘eni.  Ko e to’a ‘a e fa’ahi ‘a Filisitia ko e saianiti, pea ko hono lahi na’e manavahee’i ‘e he kau tau ‘a ‘Isileli pea ‘ikai ha taha ke poletau mo ia.  Na’e hopo hake ‘a Tevita ke ne tali ‘a e poletau ‘a e to’a ko ‘eni, neongo na’e ‘alu atu ki he mala’e tau ko ‘ene ‘ave ‘a e me’akai ‘a hono fanga ta’okete.  Na’e fisi’ia ‘aupito ‘a Tevita ‘i he luki ‘a Kolaiate mo leakovi  ‘ene ki he ‘Otua ‘o ‘Isileli.  Na’a ne to’o ‘a ‘ene makata ‘o taa’i ‘aki ‘a Kolaiate ‘i he ivi ‘o e ‘Otua.  ‘Oku ha ‘i he vahe 18, ‘a e ngaahi me’a na’e hoko kia Tevita ‘i he hili ‘a e ikuna kaafakafa ‘i he’ene taa’i ‘a Kolaiate.  Na’e liliu lahi ‘aupito ‘a e mo’ui ‘a Tevita tatau pe ‘i he lelei pea mo e kovi.  Na’a ne ‘ilo’i ha kaume’a fafale ‘i hono va mo Sonatane.  Ko e ikuna na’e fai ‘e Tevita ‘i he’ena tau mo Kolaiate ko ha ikuna lahi faufau, ka ko ha fakatata ‘o e kosipeli.  ‘Ia Kalaisi, ‘oku tau ma’u ha Tu’i ‘oku lahi ange mo lelei ange ‘ia Tevita – ko ha Tu’i kuo ne ikuna’i ‘a e saianiti ‘o e angahala mo mate pea ne fakatau’ataina ‘a hono kakai ‘o ta lave ai. 

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well-known in Scripture. The Philistine army challenged the Israelite army to a battle between their greatest champions. The Philistine champion was the giant Goliath, whose presence was so foreboding no Israelite wanted the seemingly impossible challenge of battling him. David (who was simply delivering lunch to his older brothers in the army) was offended by the mockery Goliath hurled against Israel's God, so he used his slingshot and the power of God Himself to kill the giant. Chapter 18 tells how, in the aftermath of his victory over Goliath, David's life changed both for the better and the worse-he discovered a lasting friend in Jonathan and a bitter rival in Saul. David's defeat of Goliath is a great biblical account, but it's also a picture of the gospel. In Christ, we have an even greater King than David - a King who defeated the giants of sin and death to set His people free.

Sapate 10 Fepueli 2019

** LESONI ‘o e TAUKAPO** (From the “Taukapo” Devotional of the Mo‘ui Fo‘ou Fellowship)

1 Tuʻi 7:40-47 (1 Kings 7:40-47)

VEESI LAULOTO: 1 SAMIUELA 16:7

Ka ka folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Sāmiuela, ‘Oua na‘a tokanga‘i hono fōtunga, pe ko hono mā‘olunga; he kuo u li‘aki ia: he tala‘ehai ko e fai ki he sio ‘a e tangata; he ‘oku sio ‘a e tangata ki he mata, ka ‘oku sio ‘a e ‘Eiki ki he loto.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Tuʻi 7:44,45a “Mo e tahaʻi tahi, mo e hongofulu ma uaʻi pulumokau ʻi he lalo tahí, mo e gaahi kane (kulo), mo e ngaahi huo lafalafa (savolo) mo e ngaahi pēsoni”.

Ko e ngaahi naunau ai pe eni, naʻe ngaohi palasa ʻe Hailame maʻa kingi Solomone ki he fale ʻo Sihová, naʻe ngingila he naʻe haka ia ʻaki ʻa e kelekele ʻumea. Ko e kulo (v.45) ʻi he Tohitapu fakatongá, ko e kane, ka ʻi he Tohitapu fakapilitaniá ko e kulo. Kaekehe naʻe kau loua pe ʻa e kané mo e kuló ʻi he ngaahi meʻa naʻe ngaohi ʻe Hailame maʻae fale ʻo Sihová. Naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi kulo lahi naʻe ngaohi ʻaki ʻa e palasa mo e ngaahi pēsoni, ka ngāueʻaki ia ʻe he kau taulaʻeikí ki hono haka ʻo e ngaahi kanomateʻimanu ʻo e feilaulau ʻofá, koeʻuhi koe kau taulaʻeikí mo kinautolu ʻoku ʻanautolu ʻa e feilaulaú, ke nau fai ʻaki ʻenau kaimeʻakai ʻi he ʻao ʻo Sihová, ke mahino ko honau ʻOtuá ia, ʻoku fai ki ai ʻenau ʻatu feilaulaú. Pea ko e huo lafalafa pe ko e savoló leva, ke nau hiko ʻaki kituʻa ʻa e ngaahi malaʻiafi mei he ʻolitá, mo nau hiko ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi kanomate ʻo e fanga manu feilaulaú mei he kuló kituʻa. Pea ko e ngaahi pēsoní leva, ke fakatali ki ai ʻa e lolo ʻo e ngaahi feilaulaú, he naʻe palasa ngingila pē

28

mo ia. Ko Kalaisi, ko ia ʻa e ʻolita mo e kulo naʻe feilaulauʻi kalusefai ai ʻa hotau ʻEiki Huhuʻi ko Sīsū Kalaisí, he naʻe finangalo pe ʻa e ʻOtuá ke ʻomi pe ia ʻi hono ʻAló ke pekia ʻi he ʻolitá ko e kolosi ʻi Kalevale, ke ne fua ʻa e angahala kotoa pē ʻakinautolu ʻoku tui falala kiate ia, ʻo fakatauʻatāinaʻi kinautolu mei he nunuʻa ʻo e angahala, ko e mate taʻengata, ʻa ē ʻoku nānāfaki ke hoko ki he ʻuniveesi. He ko Sīsū pē ʻa e hala ki hotau ʻOtuá, ʻo ʻafio taʻengata mo ia.

Na’e ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i hono fakamanatu ‘e Mosese ‘a e pule mo e tataki ‘a e ‘Otua ki he’enau mo’ui, ka na’a ne tukuatu mo ha ngaahi fakahinohino ki he anga ‘o e mo’ui te nau fai ‘i he hokoatu ‘enau fononga.  Ko e me’a mahu’inga ke nau tauhi ‘a e mo’ui tonunga ki he ‘Otua ‘o fou ‘i he talangofua ki he’ene ngaahi fekau.  Na’e lea malohi ‘a Mosese ki he fakatauele ‘o e lotu ‘aitoli.  Na’a ne akonaki’i kinautolu ke nau ako’i ki he to’utangata kotoa pe ‘a e mahu’inga ke nau talangofua ki he ‘Otua.  Na’e mahu’inga ‘aupito ke nau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua he ‘oku fou mei ai ‘a e tapuaki pea mo e malu’i.  Na’e palomesi ‘a e ‘Otua ko ‘enau talangofua kakato ki he’ene ngaahi fekau ‘e iku ai ‘o nau nofo fuoloa ‘i he kelekele.  Ka ‘o kapau te nau talangata’a te nau ma’u ‘a e mala’ia mo e tautea mei he ‘Otua.  ‘Oku a’u pe ki he ngaahi ‘aho ni, ‘oku tau fakahaa’i ‘etau ‘ofa ki he ‘Otua ‘aki ‘etau talangofua ki hono ngaahi ‘alunga, pea tau ako’i ‘a e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ‘a e ‘Otua ki he to’utangata ‘oku ‘aluhake, pea tau tala mo ako ‘a ‘ene ngaahi mo’oni mo ‘ene Folofola ki mamani katoa.

Tokonaki 9 Fepueli 2019

** KO E ‘AHO ENI TE KE FOKI AI ‘O FAKAKAKATO MAI HA NGAAHI VAHE NA‘E ‘IKAI LAVA KE LAU ‘I HE UIKE, KE MA‘OPO‘OPO MAI HO‘O PALANI LAU FOLOFOLÁ **

TODAY IS PROVIDED FOR YOU TO CATCH UP ON ANY READINGS YOU MISSED DURING THE WEEK – ALSO REVIEW THE MEMORY VERSE…

VEESI LAULOTO: 1 SAMIUELA 16:7

Ka ka folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Sāmiuela, ‘Oua na‘a tokanga‘i hono fōtunga, pe ko hono mā‘olunga; he kuo u li‘aki ia: he tala‘ehai ko e fai ki he sio ‘a e tangata; he ‘oku sio ‘a e tangata ki he mata, ka ‘oku sio ‘a e ‘Eiki ki he loto.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Falaite 8 Fepueli 2019

Ko e Tu‘i/tangata ne hoa mo e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua

a man after God’s own heart

1 SAMIUELA 15-16 (1 SAMUEL 15-16)

VEESI LAULOTO: 1 SAMIUELA 16:7

Ka ka folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Sāmiuela, ‘Oua na‘a tokanga‘i hono fōtunga, pe ko hono mā‘olunga; he kuo u li‘aki ia: he tala‘ehai ko e fai ki he sio ‘a e tangata; he ‘oku sio ‘a e tangata ki he mata, ka ‘oku sio ‘a e ‘Eiki ki he loto.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Ko e hokohoko talangata’a ‘a Saula, na’e kau kovi ‘aupito ia kiate ia mo hono famili.  Na’e fakahaa’i ‘e he ‘Otua kia Saula, ko ‘ene talangata’a kiate Ia na’e tatau tofu pe ia mo ‘ene tauhi ‘aitoli, pea ‘i he tu’unga ko ia, na’a ne fakahifo ‘a Saula mei hono tu’i.  Na’e hoko hake leva ‘a Tevita, ko e fetongi ‘o Saula pea ne ko e Tu’i tu’ukimu’a taha ia ‘o ‘Isileli.’Ia 1 Samiuela 13:14, ‘oku fakamatala’i ai ‘e Samiuela, ‘a e Tu’i fo’ou ‘o ‘Isileli, ko ha tangata na’e hoa mo e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku ‘ikai ha fakaikiiki fekau’aki mo Tevita, tukukehe ‘a ‘ene hoko ko ha tauhi sipi, pea na’e ‘ikai ko ha tangata na’a ne ma’u ‘a e fotunga talavou ‘o hange ko hono fanga ta’okete.  Na’e ‘ikai ko ha me’a ia ke fai ki ai ha tokanga, na’e fili ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a Tevita ke hoko ko e Tu’i pea na’a ne pani ia ‘aki ‘a hono Laumalie Ma’oni’oni, pea ko e ngaahi faka’ilonga mahu’inga taha pe ia ki ha tangata.

Ko e ngaahi mo’oni’i me’a pe eni ‘oku fai ki ai ‘a e lau ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho ni – kuo fili koe ‘e he ‘Otua ke fai ‘ene ngaue, pea kuo ne fakanaunau koe ki he ngaue ko ia ‘aki ‘ene foaki kiate koe ‘a hono Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ke ne lotolotoi koe.  Pea hange pe ko Tevita, kuo foaki atu ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni kiate koe ke ne ngaohi koe ke taau mo ha tokotaha ‘oku hoa pea mo e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua, pea ko ho’o tefito’i ngaue ke tukulolo mo falala kakato kiate Ia ke ne ngaue’aki koe ki hono langilangi.

Saul's repeated disobedience had disastrous consequences for him and his family. God equated Saul's failure to obey with idolatry, and for that, he would remove him as king. This set the stage for David, who would go down in history as Israel's greatest king. In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel described the nexi king as a man after God's own heart, but very little else is told about David other than his unassuming build and his work as a shepherd. That didn't matter, though, because God chose him to be king and anointed him with His Holy Spirit, and those were the only qualifications that mattered.

The same is true of God's people today-God has chosen you to serve Him, and He has equipped you for that task by giving you the presence of His very Spirit. Like David, the Holy Spirit is committed to making you into a person after God's own heart, and all you have to do is surrender in order to allow Him to do so.

Tu‘apulelulu 7 Fepueli 2019

Ko e Taki fou ‘i he Laumālie, pe ko e kakno

Leadership styles – by the Spirit or by the flesh

1 SAMIUELA 13-14 (1 SAMUEL 13-14)

VEESI LAULOTO: 1 SAMIUELA 16:7

Ka ka folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Sāmiuela, ‘Oua na‘a tokanga‘i hono fōtunga, pe ko hono mā‘olunga; he kuo u li‘aki ia: he tala‘ehai ko e fai ki he sio ‘a e tangata; he ‘oku sio ‘a e tangata ki he mata, ka ‘oku sio ‘a e ‘Eiki ki he loto.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord

Ko e taha ‘o e ngaahi nunu’a ‘o e hoko ‘a ‘Isileli ko ha pule’anga fakatu’i, ko hono toe fakamo’ui mai ‘a e vakovi pea mo e fonua kaunga’api ‘o ‘Isileli, ‘a ia ko e Ha’a Filisitia.  Na’e ikuna’i fakakautau ‘e Saula ‘a Filisitia pea na’e fiefia ai ‘a e kakai ‘Isileli ‘i honau Tu’i fo’ou.  ‘Ia 1 Samiuela 13-14, ‘oku ha ai ha faikehekehe ‘i he founga taki ‘a Saula pea mo hono foha ko Sonatane, na’e tataki ‘e Sonatane ‘a e konga ‘o e kau tau ‘a ‘Isileli. Na’e femo’uekina pe ‘a Saula ‘i he’ene ngaahi taumu’a faka’eia pe, ‘o a’u ki he’ene situ’a ‘o ne ta’e toka’i ‘a e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ‘a e ‘Otua fekau’aki mo e taula’eiki, ‘o  a’u ki he’ene fai feilaulau na’e houhau ai e ‘Otua.   Ko e fa’ahinga to’onga eni ‘a Saula mo ‘ene talangata’a na’e iku ai ki hono li’aki  ia ‘e he ‘Otua, pea ne fili ‘a Tevita ke ne fetongi ia, ko ha tangata na’e hoa mo e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua (13:14).

Na’e fu’u fehangahangai ‘aupito ia mo e founga taki ‘a Sonatane, he na’e falala ia ki he mafai ‘a e ‘Otua mo e tataki ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o ne tomu’a fekumi ke ma’u ‘a e finangalo ‘a e ‘Otua pea ne toki fai ha me’a.  Ko e sipinga mo’ui mei he ongo tangata ko ‘eni, ‘oku ne fakamanatu kiate kitautolu ‘a e mahu’inga ketau tui falala ki he ‘Otua pea fakaongoongo kiate Ia ‘i he me’a ‘oku tau fai he ko ‘ene fekau’aki ia ‘a e ‘Otua mo kitautolu ‘i hono tauhi hotau va.

One of the consequences of Israel's new monarchy was a renewed conflict with the Philistines, Israel's enemy neighbor. Saul experienced military victory, which encouraged the people in their ability to fight back against the Philistines. First Samuel 13-14 draw a comparison between the leadership of Saul and Jonathan, Saul's son and commander of half of Israel's army. Saul was consumed by his own selfish goals, to the point that he ignored God's instruction and usurped the role of priest, offering a sacrifice that displeased God. This pattern of disobedience would lead to an abrupt end to Saul's reign, when he would be replaced by David, "a man after [God's] own heart" (13:14, ESV). Jonathan, on the other hand, acknowledged trust in God's power and leadership, seeking confirmation from God before acting. The lives of these two men are a reminder that what you believe about God determines the actions you take in your relationship with Him.

Pulelulu 6 Fepueli 2019

Ko e fili ‘a e kakai – fiema‘u ha Tu‘i

People’s choice – a King

1 SAMIUELA 9-10 (1 SAMUEL 9-10)

VEESI LAULOTO: 1 SAMIUELA 16:7

Ka ka folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Sāmiuela, ‘Oua na‘a tokanga‘i hono fōtunga, pe ko hono mā‘olunga; he kuo u li‘aki ia: he tala‘ehai ko e fai ki he sio ‘a e tangata; he ‘oku sio ‘a e tangata ki he mata, ka ‘oku sio ‘a e ‘Eiki ki he loto.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Na’e angatu’u ‘a e kakai ‘Isileli ki he ‘Otua ‘i he’enau vilitaki ke fakanofo ha’anau Tu’i, pea fai pe ‘e Samiuela  honau loto pea na’e faka’ata ‘e he ‘Otua ke fakahoko ‘enau fili.  Pea neongo na’e ‘ikai ko e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua ke fili ha Tu’i ma’a e kakai,  ka na’a ne kei tataki pe ‘a e fili ‘a e kakai fekau’aki mo honau ‘uluaki Tu’i.  Na’e me’angaue’aki ‘e he ‘Otua ha ngaahi me’a na’e hoko ki he kakai fekau’aki pea mo hono fili ‘a e tokotaha ‘e hoko ko e Tu’i ‘o ‘Isileli.  Na’e fekumi mai ‘a Saula kia Samiuela ko ‘ene kumi tokoni ki ha’ane kumi ha fanga’asi na’e mole.  Na’e hoko pe ‘eni ia ‘o fakatatau ki he palani ‘a e ‘Otua, ke ne fakaha ai kia Samiuela ko Saula ‘oku fili ‘e he ‘Otua ke hoko ko e taki fo’ou ‘o ‘Isileli.  Mei he kamata’anga pe ‘o e talanoa ‘o Saula, ‘oku ha mai ai pe ‘a e ngaahi faka’ilonga ‘o e ngaahi faingata’a ‘e hoko ‘i he fefusiaki ‘a Saula mo hono kakai, ko e palopalema ‘o e ‘ikai te ne falala kakato ki he ‘Otua (9:21; 10:22).  Ko e mo’ui ‘a Saula na’e fakamamahi ko e ‘ikai te ne a’usia ‘a e tu’unga kakato ‘o e fokotu’utu’u ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ko ha  fakamanatu mahu’inga kiate kitautolu ‘a e mahu’inga ketau falala kakato ki he ‘Otua mo ‘ene ngaahi palani ki he’etau mo’ui, he ‘oku fiema’u ketau falala kakato ta’etoe ue’ia ki hono finangalo.

The Israelites rebelled against God by demanding a king, and Samuel, with God's approval, granted their request. Even though a monarchy was not God's desire for the people, God still took it upon Himself to select who would be the nation's first king. God worked through a series of seemingly unrelated events to reveal who that king would be. Saul, in the process of searching for some lost donkeys, solicited the help of Samuel. All of this happened according to God's predicted plan, which revealed to Samuel that Saul was God's appointed leader. From the beginning of Saul's story, though, we see hints of the life-long struggle that would plague his leadership-a lack of trust in God (9:21; 10:22). Saul's life is a sad story of unrealized potential, but it's an important reminder of God's desire that we trust Him and His plans for our lives, resulting in our unwavering devotion.

Tusite 5 Fepueli 2019

Ko e Ui ‘o Samiuela – ‘Oku Ne kei ui…

The Calling of Samuel – He still calls today

1 SAMIUELA 3; 8 (1 SAMUEL 3; 8)

VEESI LAULOTO: 1 SAMIUELA 16:7

Ka ka folofola ‘a e ‘Eiki kia Sāmiuela, ‘Oua na‘a tokanga‘i hono fōtunga, pe ko hono mā‘olunga; he kuo u li‘aki ia: he tala‘ehai ko e fai ki he sio ‘a e tangata; he ‘oku sio ‘a e tangata ki he mata, ka ‘oku sio ‘a e ‘Eiki ki he loto.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 SAMUEL 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Mei ‘i he’ene kei tamasi’i, na’e ako ngaue ‘a Samiuela ‘i hono tauhi ‘o e Temipale mei he Taula’eiki lahi ko ‘Ilai.  Na’e hoko ‘a hono ui ‘o Samiuela ‘i he taimi na’a na nofo ai mo ‘Ilai, ke ne hoko ko ha Palofita ki ‘Isileli.  Na’e ui ‘a e ‘Otua kia Samiuela lolotonga ‘ene tokoto ke maloloo ‘i he ve’e ‘a’ake ‘o e kovinanite.  Ko e ‘Otua pe na’a ne ui ‘a Samiuela pea neongo na’e ‘ikai ke mahino ‘i he kamata, ka na’e iku pe ‘o taliangi mo tali ko au ‘a Samiuela ki he ui na’e fai ‘e he ‘Otua kiate ia.  Na’e tali ‘io pe ‘a Samiuela ki he ‘Otua ke fai ‘ene ngaue neongo na’e ‘ikai ke fu’u mahino fau ‘a e tu’utu’uni na’e ‘oange ke ne fakahoko.  Na’e hoko ‘a Samiuela ko ha tamaio’eiki ke ne tataki ‘a Ha’a ‘Isileli ‘i ha taimi faingata’a mo fonu faingata’a ‘i he hisitolia ‘o ‘Isileli.  Na’e vili ‘a e kakai ‘Isileli ‘i nau hoko ‘o hange ko e ngaahi fonua kaunga’api, na’a nau loto ke fili  hanau Tu’i pea nau pehe ai ka ‘i ai hanau Tu’i te nau malohi ‘o ikuna’i honau fili.  Na’a nau kole ke fakanofo hanau Tu’i ke pule kiate kinautolu, ko ha kole faingata’a he na’e fehangahangai eni mo honau tu’unga ‘i he ‘afio mai ‘a e ‘Otua he na’e ‘osi vahe’i kinautolu ke nau makehe mei he toenga ‘o e ngaahi pule’anga he ko e kakai fili kinautolu.  Na’e tali pe ‘e he ‘Otua ‘enau kole ka na’e hoko pe eni ko e taha ‘o e ngaahi angatu’u ‘a e kakai ‘Isileli mo ‘i honau va mo e ‘Otua.

From the time he was a little boy, Samuel served as an apprentice to Eli, the priest. During this time, God called Samuel to a life of prophetic ministry. While resting near the ark, Samuel heard the Lord speak to him. God took the initiative, as He always does, and after some confusion about whose voice he heard, Samuel submitted to God. Without yet knowing what God was specifically asking, Samuel enlisted himself into service. Over the years, Samuel continued to grow in his relationship with God and in his responsibilities to the nation during a transitional and unstable time in their history. The people voiced their desire to be more like their neighboring nations, who were all ruled by kings, and they hoped that becoming a monarchy would give them strength against their enemies. So they asked Samuel to appoint a king to govern them-a request that flew in the face of their identity as God's chosen people, set apart from all other nations. God granted their request, but considered it simply another of the many rebellious choices of Israel