“As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.”
1 Samuel 8:1-22 NLT
People want what they want, and people’s hearts are wicked. They don’t want what is necessarily good for them but rather what they perceive to be good. They wanted a king because they perceived it to be a way to compete among the surrounding nations. No doubt, the constant onslaught weighed heavy upon this decision. It must be noted that it wasn’t wholly irrational either. Just as Eli before him, the legacy of a godly judge often didn’t translate well to his offspring. Phineas and Hophni were wicked. Now Samuel’s two sons seemed to be continuing that trend. The people were partially looking for a change because the men who should’ve shown them how a proper theocracy can flourish and thrive did the opposite. Nonetheless, it doesn’t excuse the thought. Having a king, when you have the king, is both shameful and foolish, and though God would give them what they wanted, he also wished to warn them of what would come. He wanted them to have full culpability. This scenario is a very “be careful what you wish for,” situation. We ought to be careful not to misread our situation. Things outside of a godly worldview may seem better, but they invite a tyrant we aren’t meant to experience. Forbidden fruit leads to death, no matter how good it looks to us.
People’s Desire for a King: Driven by a desire to compete with other nations and a perception that a king would provide better leadership than the corrupt judges.
God’s Warning: God granted the people’s request but also warned them of the consequences of choosing a king, emphasizing the importance of understanding the true nature of their desires.
Consequences of Rejecting God’s Rule: Seeking solutions outside of a godly worldview may seem appealing but ultimately leads to negative outcomes, symbolized by the concept of “forbidden fruit.”
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