Israel Demands a King

KEY VERSE: “All the elders of Israel … came to Samuel … and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” —I Samuel 8:4,5

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Samuel 8:4-9, 19; 12:19-25

BEFORE ISRAEL CROSSED over Jordan into the Promised Land, Moses prophesied that one day they would ask for a king to rule over them, although this was not God’s arrangement for them. (Deut. 17:14,15; 28:36) However, when the time came that they did ask for a king, the Lord granted their request, and at the same time warned of some of the consequences. God took a hand in the selection of their first king, as well as later ones. Samuel felt badly that the people asked for a king, since he had been ruling well as a judge. But the Lord said to him, “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”—I Sam. 8:7

However, the Lord did not permit the full implication of, the Israelites’ request for a king to be realized, for he still maintained his control over the nation, exercising it through their kings instead of their judges. It is in keeping with this that Israel’s kings were said to sit upon the throne of the Lord. (I Chron. 29:23) It was to establish this thought in the minds of the Israelites that the Lord chose Saul, their first king, and instructed Samuel, his recognized representative, to anoint him. This same procedure was later followed in the case of David.

Under this arrangement, Israel was, in reality, the kingdom of the Lord, and typical of the great Messianic kingdom which is to rule for a thousand years and subdue all the enemies of God and of righteousness, the “last enemy” to be destroyed being death. (I Cor. 15:26) While the nation of Israel rejected God’s arrangement of government through judges, and clamored for a king, he overruled it in a manner to teach a typical lesson.

Saul, was “a choice young man.” To begin with, he was humble and usable. (I Sam. 9:21) He was a tall and stalwart man, one who would appeal to the Israelites as having strength and ability. He had a talent to rally the Israelites to battle against their enemies, but he lacked the spiritual strength to follow the leadings and instructions of the Lord.

Saul was on a mission for his father, endeavoring to locate his lost asses, when he came in contact with Samuel and learned that he had been chosen by God to be king of Israel. It has been observed in this connection that in most instances God chooses for his service those who are busy, and those who demonstrate a sense of responsibility in connection with the common tasks which may fall to their lot to perform. It is certainly true that unless one is faithful in little things, he will not be faithful in the use of larger opportunities of service.

In the Lord’s providence, Samuel did more than merely anoint Saul to be king. In addition to this he introduced the new king to the people, and, as it were, put in a good word for him. “See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?” Then the people accepted the Lord’s choice, and shouted, “God save the king.”—I Sam. 10:24

Besides, “Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord.” (vs. 25) Here was another evidence that the Lord had not forsaken his people, even though they had rejected him. The Lord knew the terrible state of chaos and suffering they would be in if he allowed them to make up their own kingdom laws and regulations, so he took care of this for them. This displayed a wonderful attitude on God’s part, both of patience and of mercy.

Saul and the new kingdom had enemies right from the start. “The children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents.” (vs. 27) How much better off would be all the Lord’s people if they could learn to “hold their peace” when ignored or opposed by those who ought to manifest a brotherly spirit of fellowship and cooperation!

The first great test of Saul’s leadership as king and warrior soon came, for the Ammonites gathered in battle array against the nation, and the hearts of the people fainted. Many hid themselves for fear. But when Saul learned of the situation he took drastic action, and very quickly assembled an army and dispersed the enemy. Following Saul’s victory, there was a reaffirmation of the new kingdom arrangements.

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