Throughout the reading, I still get the feeling that God is acting more of a dictator, than a righteous leader. The people want a physical king. They want someone that they can see and worship. In I Samuel 8: 10-22, Samuel repeated to the people, everything that Yahweh had told him “This is what the king who is to reign over you will do. He will take your sons and direct them to his chariotry and cavalry, and they will run in front of his chariot… When that day comes, you will cry aloud because of the king you have chosen for yourselves, but on that day Yahweh will not hear you.” Through these lines, you can see that God is almost childish to a sense. He is not getting what he wants; therefore, he is being stubborn and saying that when the people need him, he wont be there to help. I found this to be rather strange because isn’t God supposed to be loving, forgiving, and understanding at all times?
Another instance that I found interesting was I Samuel 16:14-23. “Now the spirit of Yahweh had withdrawn from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh afflicted him with terrors.” This is shocking to know that God had sent an evil spirit down on one of his people. Saul gets lucky, because they are able to find someone who plays well enough and “whenever the spirit from God came over Saul, David would take a harp and play; Saul would then be soothed; it would do him good, and the evil spirit would leave him.” This is another example of a terrible relationship between a leader and his people. Sending down evil spirits on people because they haven’t listened to your direct commands or haven’t obeyed your every command is barbaric.
I think the two examples that I showed are both indicative of the evil nature of God. As I mentioned earlier, God is typically thought of someone who is loving, forgiving, and understanding at all times. These portray a completely different picture. This also touches on human nature as somewhat animalistic. This shows an example of needing to be trained through punishment. Like a punish and reward type scenario. It totally confuses me and I find it to be perplexing.
Lucas' Blog 
Lucas, I agree with your point that God can be perceived as an authoritative figure. He repeatedly punishes those that disobey his laws and inflicts pain upon their life which seems to paradox the basis of Catholicism. I also find it interesting how God goes back and forth between seeming anthropomorphic and all knowing. In I Samuel he seems to be very invested and effected by the choices of others. You make some great points!!!!
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