Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Samuel 8:22

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

Above, the prophet, foreseeing the future, said: "You will cry out to the Lord, and He will not hear you, because you asked for a king for yourselves." But now the Lord says: "Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them." What is shown to us through this, except that it is often divinely inspired in the good rulers of holy Church to subject to the pursuits of the heavenly life those who are afterward not devout under the discipline of the same profession? …

Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 4, Chapter 4 ↗

Bede

And Samuel said . . . Let each one return to his city. Even today, the divine word teaches that all who are obstinate and rebellious against the Lord should return individually to the heart's council from the public scene of obstinate contention; so that each, more freely within his own heart, may diligently examine what he has done against the will of your heavenly ordination, and what sentence he is to receive from the strict judge.

Commentary on Samuel ↗