“But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge 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.’” (1 Samuel 8:6, 20)

The Children of Israel desired of Samuel that he would give them a king. With this Samuel was greatly displeased. Let us see what Samuel saw in this seemingly forward step.

•. Samuel saw Israel turning away from the Lord.

During the years of Samuel’s judgeship, God was the recognized head of Israel, and Samuel was only His spokesman. Therefore, in rejecting Samuel, they rejected God. This is what the Lord said to Samuel, “‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them’” (v. 8:7).

• Samuel saw Israel patterning her life after the nations among whom she dwelt.

The Philistines had a king and they wanted a king. Here is the temptation which befalls many of God’s children. They say, “Others do this or that; others go here or there, and why shouldn’t we?” The error in all this is potent. Christ has called us out of the world, and we are not of the world. Between the believer and the world is a great and impassable chasm. There is no ground for fellowship and no basis for unity.

Israel was a people separated from all the peoples of the earth - a special people unto the Lord their God. How then could Israel walk after the pattern of those who were her enemies, and the enemies of God? No more can we walk after the men of this world.

• Samuel saw the sorrows that a king would bring unto the people of God.

The Prophet sought Israel’s good, and not her undoing. His heart yearned after the people whom he had judged for so many years. He said to them: “‘This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen’” (v. 11). “‘He will take your daughters . . . he will take the best of your fields . . . he will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage’” (vv. 13-15). In other words, Samuel said that if they had a king, he would use them and all that they possessed for his own good.

Guard your heart. Teach your children. Watch and pray.

Oh, and no kings but King Jesus!