A King Like All the Nations

Israel rejected God as king and asked for a king like all the nations, and God judged them by granting exactly what they wished for.

Speakers

W. W. Jacobs published "The Monkey's Paw" in 1902 — a talisman granting three wishes at a terrible price, adapted more than 25 times. Its moral: be careful what you wish for.
Samuel grew old and made his sons judges, which he had no authority to do — God raises up judges. The sons took bribes and perverted justice, just like Eli's worthless sons in 1 Samuel 2.
Oppressed from within this time, Israel stopped looking up to God and looked around at the nations.
A king was never Plan B. God promised kings to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17, prophesied a scepter for Judah in Genesis 49, and gave the clearest plan in Deuteronomy 17.
Deuteronomy 17's king must not acquire many horses or wives, must write out and read the law all his days. He is a king, but a servant, not a sovereign.
The difference is in 1 Samuel 8:19-20: they want a king to make them like the nations and fight their battles. They were tired of being small, weak, and dependent on God.
One commentator: Israel asked in effect to opt out of their covenant with the Lord; they wanted a pagan model of nationhood.

Israel had forgotten the victory at Mizpah in 1 Samuel 7, where God delivered them with a thunderstorm after they repented.
Christians have received better promises — redeemed not from Egypt but from sin and death, bought by the blood of Jesus, not by signs and wonders.
When you ask, "Do I have what I need?" — don't look around, look up. Look around and you will never be satisfied; someone always has it better.
Psalm 73: the psalmist almost slipped envying the wicked, then went to the sanctuary and concluded, "For me it is good to be near God." Read it as homework.
Samuel's warning in 1 Samuel 8:11-18: the king will take your sons, daughters, best fields, a tenth of your grain and flocks — and you will still be his slaves.

1 Samuel 9:1 nearly copies 1 Samuel 1:1 phrase by phrase. In Hebrew "Samuel" and "Saul" are almost identical, and "Saul" means "asked for."
The narrative jumps from Israel's demand for a king to a farm boy hunting lost donkeys — like cutting from election night coverage to a documentary about a farmer's missing donkeys.
Saul is the tallest, handsomest man in Israel, but the shine wears off fast: he wants to quit the search out of concern for what his father will think. The first time he doesn't do what he's told.
Samuel anoints him "prince," not "king" — Saul will rule, but the people belong to the Lord. Israel rejected the Lord; the Lord has not rejected Israel.
The Spirit rushed on Saul and he prophesied, but back home in 1 Samuel 10:14 he told his uncle only that the donkeys were found. His silence about the kingdom was deafening.
At the public casting of lots, Samuel gathered them at Mizpah — the place of repentance now the place of rejection. Saul hid among the baggage; that is not humility, it is refusing to listen.
Augustine: "The Lord God in his wrath grants them what they ask. He gave them a king according to their heart, but not according to his heart."

Saul is impressive to look at, but God looks at the heart. The king we need is not like the nations but like God himself.
David is after God's own heart, yet also fails to keep the law, and his household comes to ruin — so God promises him a descendant whose perfect reign lasts forever.
Saul takes and takes; Jesus came not to take but to give, not seeking servants but to serve, not taking your sons to die for him but dying for you.
He refuses to reject you even if you reject him. Whatever you have made king, you are not too far gone.