Give Us a King

The story of Israel’s kings has to begin with the story of Israel’s last judge and first prophet, Samuel.

Samuel had been born to a mother who had prayed fervently for a son, and when God granted her a son, Hannah dedicated him to the Lord’s service. He grew up in the care and keeping of Eli the priest. As with other special servants of God, Samuel was called at an early age. He understood that he had a gift and would perform God’s work throughout his life.

Eli’s own sons were unworthy to inherit their father’s office, so Samuel was appointed to that position when Eli died. Samuel was a wise, faithful priest and leader of Israel. He was a fair and decisive judge, with the gift of prophecy. He earned the respect of Israel and maintained that respect throughout his judgeship.

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord. I Samuel 7:15-17

As seems common to many sons of great leaders, Samuel’s sons turned out to be as worthless as Eli’s had been. As is also common in such cases, the populace knew all about Samuel’s worthless sons. They would not accept those men as leaders.

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” I Samuel 8:1-5

The family hierarchy would not work with God’s people, because God’s delegated authorities must be faithful to God’s standards. If they are not, they will be replaced. Obedience to God’s will must be personal and complete in one who is administering God’s edicts.

The people didn’t just simply reject the leadership of Samuel’s sons, they demanded a different system of government. The surrounding Gentile nations had human kings. They liked the symbolism of a king. They thought it would elevate them in the world. They wanted to be equal to the other nations. Being superior to the other nations was not satisfactory to them. Samuel didn’t like the idea. Emulating the Gentiles was not what God's people were supposed to do. They were willing to compromise their superior position to be "like all the nations." 

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” I Samuel 8:6-9

Those who faithfully represent God in the world are not appreciated by the world. When we believers are ridiculed and rejected by people of the world, it is God they are rejecting. This is especially true in the case of high profile believers. The worldlings have their self-conceived image of God and resent being told the truth of God’s Word by someone they consider only human, as they are. Anything that interferes with their selfish ambitions will usually be rejected, as will the one bringing the message. Popular opinion is usually wrong. It is a multiplication of emotional reaction, carnal thinking and arrogance. Mob mentality.

God, seeing their negative volition to His perfect plan and provision for them, agreed to grant their request.  As always in such cases, there would be long-term severe consequences. So, you want a king? OK, you will have a king.

So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” I Samuel 8:10-18

As a normal human being with normal human characteristics (old sin nature), your king will:

1. Draft your sons into military and national service “for himself.”

2. Take your daughters into domestic service.

3. Confiscate your best properties and crops and distribute them to people in his entourage.

4. Take your servants and your livestock and use them for his own purposes.

5. Take a percentage of your cash-producing livestock.

6. You will be enslaved, and you will cry out to God to deliver you from this king, whom you now want.

You’ll just have to live with your choice.

But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.” I Samuel 8:19-22

Why did Israel want a king? v 20: “that we also may be like all the nations.” (!) 

They demanded mediocrity.