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b'This story is about a marginalized group of people finding a bit of liberation, then seeking to recreate some of the very systems they escaped, and in the process turning their back on God and oppressing themselves. In this week\\u2019s episode, we explain the meaning and significance of this story and explore what it might teach us about LGBTQ liberation.\\nRead the transcript (PDF)\\n1 Samuel 8\\nNow when Samuel got old, he appointed his sons to serve as Israel\\u2019s judges. The name of his oldest son was Joel; the name of the second was Abijah. They served as judges in Beer-sheba. But Samuel\\u2019s sons didn\\u2019t follow in his footsteps. They tried to turn a profit, they accepted bribes, and they perverted justice.\\nSo all the Israelite elders got together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, \\u201cListen. You are old now, and your sons don\\u2019t follow in your footsteps. So appoint us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.\\u201d It seemed very bad to Samuel when they said, \\u201cGive us a king to judge us,\\u201d so he prayed to the Lord.\\nThe Lord answered Samuel, \\u201cComply with the people\\u2019s request\\u2014everything they ask of you\\u2014because they haven\\u2019t rejected you. No, they\\u2019ve rejected me as king over them. They are doing to you only what they\\u2019ve been doing to me from the day I brought them out of Egypt to this very minute, abandoning me and worshipping other gods. So comply with their request, but give them a clear warning, telling them how the king will rule over them.\\u201d\\nThen Samuel explained everything the Lord had said to the people who were asking for a king. \\u201cThis is how the king will rule over you,\\u201d Samuel said:\\n\\u201cHe will take your sons, and will use them for his chariots and his cavalry and as runners for his chariot. He will use them as his commanders of troops of one thousand and troops of fifty, or to do his plowing and his harvesting, or to make his weapons or parts for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, or bakers. He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants. He will give one-tenth of your grain and your vineyards to his officials and servants. He will take your male and female servants, along with the best of your cattle and donkeys, and make them do his work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and then you yourselves will become his slaves! When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but on that day the Lord won\\u2019t answer you.\\u201d\\nBut the people refused to listen to Samuel and said, \\u201cNo! There must be a king over us so we can be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.\\u201d\\nSamuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it directly to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Samuel, \\u201cComply with their request. Give them a king.\\u201d\\nPhoto by JBLivin\\nThe post When liberation turns into oppression \\u2013 1 Samuel 8 appeared first on Queer Theology.'