I Sam. 8:19
"But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, 'No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
It seems as if Israel was obsessed with being like those nations around them. Originally, they wanted the women and the gods of the other nations refusing to obey all God's clear commands to rid the land of these people. He warned them that taking their women as wives would be a snare for them leading them into idolatry. And it did!
And now once again, they have explicitly stated this desire. They wanted a king so they could be like other nations, so that he could judge them and go before them into battle. Aren't all those things precisely what God had done for them? He had judged them and gone before them into battle bringing them the victory. But apparently, God, the King of all Kings, was not enough for these people. No wonder Samuel was grieved by their request. But God told Samuel that it was not his fault "for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them." How sad!
God answered their request, "Obey their voice and make them a king." Samuel obeyed. His heart was always obedient toward God, but the hearts of his sons were not. They wanted gain so they took bribes and perverted justice. How that must have grieved Samuel's heart as well! His nation and his sons were rejecting the God he loved and served. Following God and His commands can often be a lonely and discouraging path, a path that was fast becoming Samuel's.
Father,
Keep my eyes and desires free from the world's allure. Keep me true to You in all that I do. Give my Your strength and grace as I follow You path.
In Jesus name,
Amen
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