The People Demand a King

GOLDEN TEXT: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” —Psalm 33:12

I SAMUEL 10:17-25

TOWARD the close of Samuel’s tenure of office as judge in Israel the people clamored for a king. Samuel had appointed his sons to succeed him in office, but the people knew that they were not qualified for the position, so they used this as an excuse to voice their demand, that they be given a king instead. The only reason they gave for wanting a king was their desire to be like other nations.

Beginning with Moses, and on through Joshua and the judges, the Lord himself had maintained fairly direct contact with the Israelites. He, more than anyone else, was really their ruler. So when they asked for a king in order to be like the other nations it was, in effect, a rejection of the Lord’s rulership. But the Lord did not arbitrarily refuse their request. Instead, he asked Samuel to explain to the people all the difficulties they would encounter under the rulership of kings.

But the people would not change their minds. They still asked for a king, thus indicating that they thought their way was better than the Lord’s. So God yielded to the desires of the people, and asked Samuel to anoint a king, supervising as to who would be selected for this important office.

The Lord is longsuffering and wise in his dealings with his people. In demanding a king, the Israelites had rejected his rulership over them, but he did not reject them; nor did he give up his rulership over them. Concerning Solomon, who was Israel’s third king, we read that he sat “on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father.”—I Chron. 29:23

Throughout the long period of Israel’s kings the Lord continued to overrule in their affairs, punishing them when they sinned and blessing them when they were faithful to him. Their last king was Zedekiah, who was overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. This was in 606 B.C. At that time the whole nation was taken captive to Babylon, where they remained for seventy years. At the end of the seventy years they were permitted to return to their land, but were not given back their national independence. They remained a subject people until A.D. 70-73, when a Roman army under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and their temple, and they became a scattered people until they were reborn as a nation in 1948.

As noted, Saul was the first king of Israel. He was handsome and tall, head and shoulders above most of the Israelites. When the people realized that he was to be their ruler they all shouted, “God save the king.” (vs. 24) This was probably the first time this expression was ever used.

When chosen to be the king, Saul was humble, little in his own sight, as Samuel put it. (vss. 21,22; ch. 15:17) But the honor and power of the office affected Saul adversely. He became disobedient to the Lord, and was finally rejected as king of Israel. He was allowed to continue for awhile, but did not enjoy the Lord’s blessing. He finally killed himself by falling on his own sword while fighting a losing battle with the Philistines.

Saul’s final act of disobedience, which caused the withdrawal of the Lord’s favor from him, was in connection with the Amalekites. He was directed through Samuel to destroy this people and their king, Agag. Their flocks and herds were also to be destroyed. Instead of carrying out these instructions fully, Saul saved the life of the king, and the people reserved some of the best of the sheep and cattle with which to offer sacrifice.—ch. 15:15,20,21

Concerning this Samuel said to Saul, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”—I Sam. 15:22,23

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” our Golden Text declares. To date, Israel is the only nation which actually had Jehovah as God and Ruler. Throughout the Gospel Age many nations have claimed to be Christian, but this has been a false claim. Israel was blessed by the Lord in many ways. Because it was God’s nation he punished the people for their sins, and their downward course into sin was somewhat arrested. The Law given at Mount Sinai also helped to preserve the people in part. Rich were the blessings they received from the Lord when they endeavored to observe that Law.

QUESTIONS

Did God reject Israel when the people rejected him by asking for a king?

What sort of man was Saul?

Why did God reject him as king?

Has any nation ever had God as Lord or Ruler?

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