Day 73 of 1461

“He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officials and attendants… He will take a tenth of your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.” -Samuel 8:10-18 – The Holy Bible – NIV

The prophet Samuel warns the Israelites about the consequences of demanding a king. God, through Samuel, describes how a centralized authority will begin to take — not just lead. The king will claim the best of their land, their labor, their daughters and sons, and a tenth of their produce and flocks. This isn’t just about taxation — it’s about the gradual erosion of personal freedom in exchange for the illusion of security and structure. The warning is prophetic: when power becomes concentrated, the people inevitably become servants to that power.

Fast forward to today, and this ancient warning still resonates. In the U.S., citizens are watching as taxes and tariffs are used to leverage power, favor certain industries, and line the pockets of the wealthy. Some people may feel these measures appear beneficial, but they often burden the middle and working class the most. Like in Samuel’s time, there’s a growing concern that the government — regardless of political party — is becoming less accountable to the people and more invested in its own expansion. Tariffs framed as “protecting the nation” can ultimately increase prices for everyday necessities, including food, clothing and shelter, just as taxation in ancient Israel funded the king’s armies and palaces at the people’s expense.

The core warning of 1 Samuel 8 is timeless: Be careful what kind of leadership you empower — because once power begins to take instead of serve, it’s hard to reverse. Taxation itself isn’t inherently evil, but when it’s used as a tool of control, favoritism, or oppression, it reflects the kind of governance God warned about — one where the people cry out, and no one listens.