We Want A King!

Have you ever heard the statement, “Be careful of what you ask for, you just might get it?”

There is a story in the Bible that reflects the truth of this statement. The story is found in 1 Samuel 8. God had set judges over Israel to lead them. Samuel, a judge over Israel, was getting older, and unfortunately his sons, whom should have taken his place, were dishonest. 

The people of Israel, instead of trusting God to work the issues with the sons, demanded that Samuel set a king over them. Samuel went to the Lord, and the Lord said, don’t take it personally, it’s Me (and my ways), they are rejecting.  

God told Samuel to give them what they asked for. But before it was given, God told Samuel to warn them what would happen to them if they chose a king to rule over them, rather than Him. 

The warning was intense: the king will take what is yours as his and you will end up being his servants. (paraphrased) Israel didn’t heed God’s warning. 

And soon enough, the people became in servitude to the king. 

Look at the reasons why they wanted a king:

1) The sons were dishonest men. 

This seems reasonable. Who wants dishonest people in leadership? But here is the challenge—our trust shouldn’t be in earthly leadership. Our trust is in the One who establishes the order of things. He is the One who works through everything. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding…”

2) We want to be like everyone else.

Oh, how this one gets us in trouble! It’s called coveting. We see something someone else has and we want it, thinking it will fill something we THINK we are missing. God’s knows what is best for us. He created us. When we want to be, “like everyone else”, it robs us of the joy of who God created us to be and we become ungrateful for the things we do have. 

“…for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 

3) The king, rather than God, would judge them.

We, although we shouldn’t, judge base on what we see and with limited knowledge. God knows all. Yet, we seem to trust others judgement more than we trust God’s.

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

4) The king will fight our battles for us. 

They didn’t trust that the Lord was in the midst of the battle and they wanted someone else to do the work and fight. They didn’t consider that the king would use their sons to go into battle, and it would most likely be in the interests of the king, not the people’s. 

“…the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s…” 

 You weren’t meant to be like everyone else. You have different gifts. Different things bring you joy and make you fulfilled. God knows you better than anyone else. And, He knows what will fulfill you, satisfy and validate you better than anyone else. 

Don’t set a king, and idol, over your life. Set the Lord over your life. 

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” (Matthew 6:33, AMP)