Seeking For A King

No, but a king shall reign over us, when the LORD your God was your king.

What would make God’s people, who have been ruled by Him as their King, now seek to have an earthly king rule them, instead of their Heavenly Father and King? Nothing but fear is the response. In fear, frustration and sheer panic, Israel has forgotten who their God has been to them all along.

Here’s a little history which we need to highlight. When God gave Israel the land of Canaan, which was vast and fertile, it was an already inhabited land. To take possession of what was given to them, they had to drive out many fierce nations. One thing that separated Israel from the nations around was that all the nations had kings to rule them. These kings were human beings like themselves, who sat on royal thrones.

The king of the nation was the most powerful person and he would lead his people into battle. It was always an impressive, spectacular and assuring sight for the people of a nation to see their king arrayed for war. He always led his army and his people into battle. Indeed, the king was visibly present, giving on the spot leadership, example and guidance to his soldiers.

When the non-fighting people saw their king, prepared, brave and ready to tackle an opponent, they became an assured people. They were given visible peace and assurance that their king was going to protect them and save them from the enemy.

This was the way all the nations around Israel operated, but Israel had no human king. God had made His nation different. He was such a very present help to His beloved children and so wanted to be their all, He never gave them a king. Our God has always been a jealous God. So jealous was He for His treasured children that He gave Himself the position of being their King. As was stated by Samuel, God was their King. God gave Israel judges to lead His people according to Him, but He never gave them an earthly king.

Samuel was their reigning judge at the time and he had been leading Israel for his entire life, according to his own profession.  He says to them, I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. 1 Samuel 12: 2b. Now the people of Israel are seeing Samuel as no longer capable of leading them and they are totally beside themselves with fear. Their confidence is at a very low ebb, or perhaps non-existent. They are seeking for a king, when God has been their King all along. Even while Samuel was in his prime and was judging the people fairly, honestly and to their delight, God, not Samuel, was their King ruling all the affairs of Israel. God never ever relinquished His role as King to His people.  

It is a very sad people who have come to the place and point in their lives, because of pressing, uncontrollable fear, to reject God as their King. Might I hasten to add that those were the words of God Himself to Samuel, about His children’s response to Him as their King.    

The king of one of the surrounding nations, has now come up against Israel and to them, their only way out, as they see it, is to have a king over them, like all the other nations around. This is what the elders of Israel said to Samuel. Look, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations. 1 Samuel 8: 5b.

This caused deep grief to Samuel in his old age and he went directly to God as he was. Samuel was frank and open before God, hiding none of the feelings of the people and hiding none of his also. God listened to His deeply troubled and highly displeased servant and gave him a response. 

We will receive that response tomorrow.