The King of Israel

The people were following their neighbours.

Was it God's will for Israel to have a king? Certainly it was, for God had indicated that the kingship was part of His plan for Israel. Gen 49:10 predicted the coming of Messiah. The Scriptures in Deutronomy 17:14-20 anticipated the request the Israelites would make for a king. It gave the regulations that had to be followed. These limited the power and splendor of the future king. He would not be dependent on military power and riches. He was not to entangle the nation in political alliances that would expose Israel to pagan worship. Instead, he was exhorted to guide the nation into obedience to God's law. He is to be bound to God's instructions. He would not be a tyrant, but a king who would rule in accordance to God's revealed wil..

Although kingship for them was not wrong in itself, the way the Israelites were demanding it was wrong. The people clearly stated their motives for wanting a king. First, they wanted to follow the practices of the neighbouring nations (Deut. 8:5). Second, they wanted a king to lead them into battles (Deut. 8:20). BOth motives amounted to a rejection of the God of Israel as their King (Deut. 8:7) The Lord had demonstrated on numerous occasions that He would fight the Israelites' battles. From the miraculous collapse of Jericho's walls (Josh. 6:20) to Gideon's rout of the massive Midianite army (Judges. 7:19-22). God had delivered His people again and again from their enemies. Why did they need a king now to lead them into battles?

What is more, GOd had given the people His word, the prophets, and the judges to guide them. But as the tragic history of Judges demonstrates, the people ignored God's guidance and followed the practices of their neighbours (Judges 3:7). Now, once again, the people were following their neighbours instead of the living God and the word He had given them. Although Samuel clearly communicated God's warning to the people, they stubbornly preferred their will to God's.

In the end, God allowed the Israelites to have what they wanted. He gave them a king like those of the other nations. The tall and handsome Saul would have been the perfect choice for a king. But through Saul's tragic reign, God taught the Israelites that they needed a king who was not like the kings of the other nations. They needed a king who would obey God's word instead of following his own will - a king would trust in God instead of himself. In the shadow of Saul's mistakes, God trained young David to walk in His ways so that He could eventually lead the nation in reighteousness.