1 and 2 Samuel: Israel Wants a King

Daily Devotional: Read 1 Samuel 8:4–22

We live in a culture characterized by self-sufficiency. We don’t like to ask for help. Have a problem? Get an answer in an instant from the computer. But what if the problem is something that can’t be solved with the collected wisdom of the internet? In that case we need a better source.

As the Books of 1 and 2 Samuel open, Israel is in a tough spot. Harassed by her enemies, the nation needed to make a change. God raised up one last judge, Samuel, to lead them to victory and to guide them back to righteousness (1 Sam. 7:6). But righteousness is hard work. What if there could be a way to guarantee victory while avoiding righteousness? Israel looked at how the other nations did things and said, “Give us a king to lead us” (v. 6).

On the surface, their request seemed innocent enough. God had permitted Israel to have a king in the Law (Deut. 17:14–21). The problem was why they wanted a king. They wanted a king who would do the things God had promised to do for them (1 Sam. 8:20)! God had already promised to defend, lead them, and fight for them if they obeyed him. He also promised to fight against them if they disobeyed! What Israel wanted was security without righteousness. They wanted the blessings of obedience without the commitment that obedience requires. In this way they rejected God from being king over them. They turned Him into their employee, rather than submit to Him as their ruler.

So, God gave them the kind of king they asked for—Saul, and he proved to be a failure. Later, God would give them the kind of king they should have asked for, David. He proved to be a leader who, although not perfect, led Israel in righteousness.

Go Deeper

Why did Israel want a king? What does it mean to want security without righteousness? Why does that fail?

Extended Reading:

1 Samuel 8-10

Pray with Us

Oh Lord, how often we want the security of Your protection without true commitment, and Your blessings without true obedience. By Your Spirit, keep us away from disobedience, hypocrisy, and shallow faith.

Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us.

1 Samuel 8:20