“So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ... “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” " [1 Samuel 8:4-9, 19-20]
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” " [1 Samuel 8:4-9, 19-20]
A King Demanded
God called Israel out from the nations around them to be holy, separate, and unique. He did it because he loved them and wanted them to survive. But the Israelites were tired of being different, of serving a God nobody could see. They wanted a human monarch to rule the nation, even though only God could cause them to flourish in the hostile land of Canaan.
But Samuel warned them that having a king wouldn’t make all their problems go away. He would reign over them and force their sons and daughters into servitude. Still, they begged. In reality, they were rejecting God as their leader. Had the Israelites submitted to God’s ultimate leadership, they would have thrived beyond their expectations. Instead, they set themselves up for disaster.
When the people persisted in their demand, despite the warning, the Lord again told Samuel to do as they asked and make them a king. The prophet then sent the people home. Soon they would have their king.
Often, we let others’ values and actions dictate our behavior. When we pay lip service to God and Sunday but continue to live by the world’s standards, we’ll blend into our culture too much. Faith in God must permeate every area of our lives. We need to stand out and worship God alone. We live under his kingship.
Samuel Anointed Saul
“Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over his inheritance?” [1 Samuel 10:1]
Prophet Samuel anoints Saul
