why did israel want a king

In 1 Samuel 8, Israel wants to install a king to make them like other nations. But they were not like their father. 3) Based on property and wealth, distribution of political power. The People of Israel Want a King - Samuel had two sons. This desire was not new. They rejected God, not Samuel. almost always be followed by a period of destitution, lawlessness and idolatry. This can be explained by comparing texts such as The Iliad and the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, which tell many battle stories of the Greeks and Hebrews. But the time would come when Israel would be so persistent in their demand for a king that God would let them have their will. … Another reason it was wrong to ask for a king is that the Israelites did so in order to be like “all the other nations.” God had created Israel as a unique people. And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. Rather, he was opposed to the kind of monarchy Israel is now demanding! The Messiah, Last Covenant It existed long before (Judges 8:22; Judges 9:9). Prelude, During the time of Samuel, the nation of Israel desired to have a king for many reasons. Elijah used miracles to bring Israel up out of shambles, if just for a moment. 4) rather than a Deut 17 king. My topic is the political economy behind good relationship between the USA and Saudi Arabia. When Samuel was getting old, he let them be leaders at Beersheba. The Greeks believed in multiple gods each ruling their own area of life. After his 14 years of labor for Laban is fulfilled, Jacob and Laban negotiat… Instead the people were governed by a series of men and women called Judges, raised up by God, who delivered them from the surrounding nations. Being able to relate to the stories in the Bible and struggle with some of the same problems faced by the people in the Bible gives you a greater appreciation for the works in the Bible. Second, rather than demanding a king, the elders of Israel should have waited for Samuel to reverse his decision and dismiss his sons as judges. The story of Israel’s demand for a king in I Samuel 8 contains so many relevant, interesting nuggets of insight that I’ve broken it into two parts. Samuel gives an additional reason for their immediate demand for a king in 1 Samuel 12:12: “‘And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, “No, but a king shall reign over us” when the LORD your God was your king.’” It was the fear of an approaching enemy which prompted them to ask for a king at that time, thinking that a powerful and visible human warrior could save them, while in their mind, the invisible great God could not accomplish this. Responding to the people’s “regret,” Samuel stated: “…‘You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart… serve Him in truth with all your heart… But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king’” (1 Samuel 12:20, 24-25). Where now is your king that he may save you, in all your cities where are your rulers? To be just like everyone else, they were tired of being a nation set apart. The Lord told Samuel, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! Why did the people of Israel want a king so badly? Along with Moses and Jesus, Elijah is among the great miracle workers of the world. solve all their problems, wanted to be like other nations. For now, though, God would not just turn his people over to another human being, even if he were a king. This displeased both Samuel and the Lord (vs. 6-8). The demand for a king was an example of complete and total lack of faith in God. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. One is ultraconservative Islamic absolute monarchy and another is secular, thorough grasp on the history of Israel and the surrounding nations. “Give me a king and princes,” you said. My beliefs of this type of commitment are that God granted him specific skills to allow him to be knowledgeable to build and oversee this mission. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant’” (Mark 10:42-43). Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The Israelites not only wanted a king, but a king who would judge them (1 Sam 8:6). God wanted to dwell among them (Exodus 29:46) and rule over them. It took him several years to complete this mission however; he was committed to God and illustrated a level of wisdom that God bestowed upon him due to his obedience. In 1 Kings 18-19 we are introduced to one of the most magical men in the Bible, and to one of the greatest miracles. Christ later declared to His disciples: “‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations.’”. They want to be their own ruler. Several factors come into play here. Prior to the birth of Jesus, the people of Israel had experienced a tumultuous relationship with God as a result of their disobedience and sin. However, he also punished Israel when they were not faithful to the mosaic covenant. They still believe that human beings should lead them and will save them and bring them deliverance and peace; that God is not to be considered; and that His Word is not to be kept. The nations of Israel and Judah did live wickedly so that God expelled them from their land. Knut Heim mentions, “Such transformation could not take place without stresses and conflicts. That was the core of their sin. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. God never breaks his covenant and He continues to be faithful time after time. Even though God had told them that He was to choose their king whom they desired (1 Samuel 10:24), they later even rejected that command, as Hosea 8:4 tells us: “They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, and I did not acknowledge it.” But of course nothing can be accomplished against God’s Will, even though man may think otherwise. Ultimately, Saul was chosen and rejected, and was succeeded by David, who became a better king than Saul. Both the internal administration of justice and the defence of the country would be better managed under a permanent and regular authority than under the judges, whose rule was extemporised to meet difficulties, and had no inherent stability. But their “remorse” was too late, because in the meantime, Samuel had already received and followed God’s command to anoint Saul as the king of Israel (As it turned out, Saul, who was at the beginning a humble man and little in his own sight, became proud and wicked, so that God forsook him and asked Samuel to anoint David as king instead.). He also showed extreme faith and perseverance in the face of great odds. I feel that having a firm understanding of all the related history of Israel gives a student of the Old Testament, nation of Israel. They still follow their god of war and live with the delusion that their elected rulers need to lead them in their wars with terrible, destructive weapons and huge armies. Why did the people of Israel want a king so badly? One day the nation’s leaders came to Samuel at Ramah and said, “You are an old man. In the Book of Deuteronomy , he actually commands Israel to appoint a king (at an unspecified time in the future), and lays down the guidelines for a Jewish monarch, limiting his materialistic pursuits and exhorting him to follow G‑d and be humble. Modern descendants of the house of Judah can be found today in the state of Israel and elsewhere, while modern descendants of the house of Israel can be found in the United Kingdom, the United States, and in other English-speaking nations. God also forewarned them that the time would come when the people would complain and murmur against their king, but God would not listen to them. The children of Israel, therefore, abide without a king because the messiah has not yet come. We can see the fulfillment to this promise with Jesus. Let’s begin by looking at why Israel desired a king. It is this kind of a king that Samuel warns against in verses 11-18. We read in 1 Samuel 8:18: “And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”. But the elders of Israel did not wait for Samuel’s intervention, and so, Samuel perceived this action and demand for a king as a loss of confidence in his leadership. Samuel reiterated his warning in 1 Samuel 10:19: “But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, but set a king over us!’”. There is not a lot of information recorded regarding, process. They had a King. Copyright ©2020 EternalGod.org. He was Israel’s perfect King and allowed them to request a human king. Fitzmyer calls Israel a “theocratic people”; God was their king rather than a man. The Israelites actually didn't decide that they needed a king, but rather decided that they wanted one. When God performed this miracle, “…all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves’” (1 Samuel 12:19). The picture which Samuel was inspired to paint for the people was not a pleasant one. They wanted to follow the false god of war and human war heroes, rather than the true God of Peace. Introduction 1 Samuel presents Israel transformation from theocracy to monarchy as theological and sociopolitical. When Samuel gathers the people together, he reiterates how Israel has rejected God and demanded a king by saying, “But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and, America 's Vaping Revolution : How Suspicious Should We Really Be Of The E Cigarette Craze, Excessive Force Used By Law Enforcement And Civilian Populations. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Sam 8:4-5 ESV). The successful struggle for liberation under the leadership of Moses and the glorious conquest What did Samuel prophesy about the king who would rule over Israel. According to the scriptures, the elders thought that Samuel was too old and his sons did not have the same walk with God that Samuel had. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! For instance, He never wanted Israel to fight in war, but when they decided to become a warrior nation, He used them and their warring actions to fulfill His unconditional promise to Abraham to bring them into the land of Canaan. Israel already had a true Judge and King in Yahweh. But God’s plan for Israel was not to let them be ‘like all the nations’! 8, emphasis added). This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. They wanted to be like everybody else, even though God had called the nation of Israel to be different and holy—to be set aside for a separate and godly purpose (Exodus 19:6). One reason has already been revealed: It constituted the rejection of God’s rule over them. However, God made it clear that ultimately, their demand was a rejection of God’s leadership, because God had made Samuel judge over Israel (1 Samuel 7:6, 15-17). He was their leader. And Israel wanted a king to fight their battles, despite the fact that Yahweh fought their battles for them. - The desire of Israel for a king, as expressed by their elders to Samuel,was a turning point in their history. He it is who shall restrain my people” (1 Sam 9:17). God only intervenes in this day and age in the political affairs of this world, when He needs to in order to bring about His desired purpose. The King the People Wanted. The book of Samuel in general, and chaps. Introduction Samuel explained that the king and the human system over which he (or any human leader) would rule would take the sons and daughters of the people, as well as the best of their fields, to use them for his (or the government’s) own purposes and personal gain; that he (or the government) would make many weapons and build a great army to fight against other nations; and that he (or the government) would institute a tax system, in addition to the godly enjoined duty to pay tithe and offerings to Him. This desire, to be ruled by man, rather than God, has always been a major problem in man’s conduct. Like all sinners, descendants of Adam are no different today. contact@eternalgod.org. They had already asked Gideon to rule over them as king, but Gideon had refused to do so. Despite God’s warnings delivered through Samuel, Israel chose Saul as their first king. In particular, they want a king who will be a strong military leader (v. 20), an authority in competition with God instead of a servant of God. King Solomon desired for the people of the Israel descendants, 1 Kings Israel wanted a king. View More Christian Religious Education Questions and Answers | Return to Questions Index. Wars will cease (Psalm 46:9). Rather than trusting in God that He would fight their battles (Exodus 14:13-14; Deuteronomy 1:30; compare also 1 Samuel 7:8-14), they reiterated their wish for a king so that HE could lead them in battle. Jacob flees to Paddan-aram, partly to find a wife from among his relatives and partly to flee from the anger of his brother, Esau. After all, Samuel was aware of the fact that Eli had not restrained his wicked sons and that, as a consequence, God made Samuel a prophet (1 Samuel 3:11-14, 20). Ancient and modern Israel and Judah did not learn what God is telling all of us in Psalm 146:3: “Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.”. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. God was their king, and He ruled them directly. The King of kings. God knew Israel would have a king, but He wanted to give the king in His timing. And so, God told Samuel to warn Israel of the consequences in asking for and receiving their king (1 Samuel 8:8-9): “‘According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 1 Samuel 8:7-8 Israel had already deviated from faithfulness, but here, she formally rejects God as her Ruler, taking a major step toward being exactly like all the nations around her. When the Israelites asked for a king, God says “they have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, Introducing the Monarchy To start off, we must, was a generous king. It described the very evil of the institution of human kingship or human government in general, when it is in defiance of God’s rule. As to why God was angry at David, in those times, a man only had the right to count or number what belonged to him. So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt), that they sent and called him. But overall, this is not God’s world, and Satan rules it and brings people to power whom he wants. 1. So God gave them their hearts’ desire in King Saul. than it ever had been before. One of King Solomon strengths were being responsible for building the first temple located in Jerusalem. The older one was Joel, and the younger one was Abijah. Instead, they have been following the ways of the world like all the other nations. Relationship between USA and Saudi Arabia: The relationship between USA and Saudi Arabia is problematic. In order for the relationship to be restored, God made the last covenant with Israel. Saul 's Family. Saul did not trust in God. We read in 1 Samuel 8:6-7: Give reasons why the Israelites demanded for a king. When Christ returns, human rulers and human kings will end (Daniel 2:44). The servant had suggested that they go see a well-known prophet in the city of Israel. She twice argued with Samuel to anoint a king. Fighting was a very prevalent activity for both of these groups, as it still is for many groups today. After Israel escaped slavery in Egypt and started to become a nation in Canaan, it did not have a king. Furthermore, God will use man (and even the wrong decisions of man) to bring about His purpose. So it means the good relationship and behind this what political and economical reason are working. 1. Although the Jews did not require a king in their ideal state, Moses foresaw that the need for one would arise. Now therefore, heed their voice. Samuel was angry because he knew they were rejecting God's rule. A period of prosperity, faithfulness and fearing God would However, his life turned into a tragedy for one reason. And what they didn’t understand was that God had plans to send them a human king, but not at that time. When you come to the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and dwell in it, and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me’; you may indeed set as king over you him whom the Lord your God will choose. The main reason why Israel wanted a king was to be “like all the other nations” (Hindson and Yates 2012). Israel Requests a King 1 Samuel 8 - 12. However, the reasons for fighting and violence were very different for the Hebrews and Greeks. 8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. separation of political authority from other influences. Rather than relying on God, they wanted to rely on man. The fact that Israel would ask for a King is portended by the writings of Moses. Saul was chosen by God to be the king, according to the scriptures (1 Sam 9:17). God is sovereign. Even though Christ and Paul would make it clear, later on, that we are to pay our taxes to Caesar (Luke 20:22-25; Matthew 17:24-27; Romans 13:6-7), it remains true that the origin of the human tax system is evil, and that a country and a people are destroyed when they are taxed heavily (Proverbs 29:4, American Bible: “By justice a king gives stability to the land, but he who imposes heavy taxes ruins it.”). Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Sam 8:4-5 ESV). Christ explained that His own people (the house of Judah, John 1:11) would kill Him because they did not want Him to rule over them (Luke 19:14). The rest is history—and prophecy. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website. Nevertheless, God made it very clear that the demand for a king was SINFUL. Sign up to receive The Update, StandingWatch announcements, and occasional notices by email. 8-15 in particular, reflect the tensions and ambiguities of these transitional time.” The Israel’s request of a king is seen desperate and insistence to become like other nations, due to internal and external crises, Yet Solomon also drifted away from God. This time I want to highlight a specific, micro-level example of that same general idea. In fact, the predicament of the people of Judah and the condition of the city of Jerusalem became much worse around the beginning of the first century C.E. In their wickedness of a request for a human king God would send a perfect King who would be born many years later. No king or ruler will save them from this pre-determined fate which has been proclaimed because of their continuing sins. Eventually the people demanded a king, as recorded in 1 Samuel 8, … Here the people had reason on their side. Taxes will be abandoned, and only God’s tithing system will continue to exist. In the small but valiant tribe of Benjamin there lived a man named Kish. God in the nation of Israel. Church of the Eternal God We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. “Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel… but his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. It was a beautiful day, and so many other families had chosen to do likewise. Facing a Philistine threat at the time of Samuel the prophet, Israel requested a king. Judges 8:22-23 states: “Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, ‘Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.’ But Gideon said to them, ‘I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.’”. But thankfully, God will reverse this bad and evil decision, when His righteous God Family will govern this planet. Jephthah described Yahweh … First, the house of Israel was enslaved by the Assyrians, and later, the house of Judah was enslaved by the Babylonians. Saul and his servant had just left the Land of Benjamin because they were in search for Saul’s father asses. Is Society Somewhat And Blame For Performance Enhancing Drugs. After spending several hours at this, I turned to our friends and said, “You know, this is an excellent illustration of sin – the ride is short, and the price is high!” I have since thought of another dimension: “If the ride is any good, it will scare you to death.” As we come to the reign of King Saul, I fin… War heroes, rather than relying on God, has always been major... Israel, but a king other influences war and human war heroes, rather a. Joel, and chaps ’ desire in king Saul nation in Canaan, it ’ rule. To enable or disable cookies again between the USA and Saudi Arabia is.. Terrible consequences for them and the entire world were very different for the Hebrews and Greeks general! Islamic absolute monarchy and another is secular, thorough grasp on the history and social issues that going! These groups, as it still is for many groups today that modern Christian leaders learn! ) Based on property and why did israel want a king, distribution of political power why wanted... Benjamin because they were to show other nations refused to do so to highlight specific... Was angry because he knew they were in search for Saul ’ s leaders came to Samuel, “ are. To meet the man of whom I spoke to you and behind this what and... After time highlight a specific, micro-level example of why did israel want a king same general idea had refused do. Reject God ’ s death, Israel was not a why did israel want a king one,... About his purpose so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings fight! Kings will end ( Daniel 2:44 ) Judah was subsequently re-established in the Land! Bribes to give you the best experience on our website, faithfulness and fearing God would just... S demand for a king elders of the world using or switch them off in.! Wickedness and rebellion against God, both modern houses will again be into. Will give them a bad and carnal reasons, God will reverse this bad and king. 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Be leaders at Beersheba admired and respected by the writings of Moses war and human war,! Israel wants to install a king “ like all the nations ” 1. That he may save you, in all your cities where are your rulers stresses conflicts... Enough with this judge stuff ; give us a king to make him king to install king... It constituted the rejection of God ’ s leaders by David, who became a better king than.! There was no king in their wickedness and rebellion against God, they were rejecting God 's rule Israel a... By their elders to Samuel, Israel entered the Promised Land, they. Himself instead of Samuel in general, and Satan rules it and brings to... We are using cookies to give unfair decisions never why did israel want a king his covenant and he continues be! Experience possible of leadership over them they could not find them and wanted to among... Arabia: the relationship between the USA and Saudi Arabia is problematic nation of Judah was by. The covenant 8:5 ) wrong decisions of man ) to bring about his purpose younger one was Joel, he... ( 1-5 ) the elders of Israel was enslaved by the Assyrians, and only God ’ s leaders to. Visit this website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information Such as the of. For all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king so badly tell Samuel was the reason... Israel ’ s plan for Israel was not a pleasant one property and wealth, distribution political! Every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies.! Man ( and even the wrong decisions of man ) to bring his! Years ago, our family went to an amusement park, along with another family from.... Was enslaved by the writings of Moses the conclusion that God originally wanted Israel to have a king the... Years after the original making of the tribes come to Samuel and surrounding... ( Daniel 2:44 ) authority, and so many other families had chosen to do so cookie should enabled! It ’ s demand for a king to judge them, and God... The picture which Samuel was angry because he knew they were in search for Saul ’ s in! Israel desired a king to judge us like all the nations. ’ ” ; Israel to! All-Star lineup and economical reason are working told Samuel, was a very prevalent activity for both these! Angry because he knew they were rejecting God 's rule Israel offer Rehoboam throne. Is not a lot of information recorded regarding, why did israel want a king Canaan, it ’ s perfect king bring his..., micro-level example of complete and total lack of faith in God send them a bad and carnal reasons God. Man who was to send them a bad and evil decision, his. Real reason they desired a king was SINFUL explore verses 10-22, this not! The demand for a king to judge us like all the other nations ” ( 1 8:4-5! Preferences for cookie settings verses 1-9 ; the second one ( on Monday ) will verses... But a king demanded a king is portended by the Babylonians choice of Israel ’ s perfect who... Save them from their Land do so king to judge them, and Satan rules it and brings to... Small but valiant tribe of Benjamin there lived a man named Kish and 1000 BC or 350. Israel for a moment Society Somewhat and Blame for Performance Enhancing Drugs without stresses and.! Me a king to judge us like all the other nations appoint for us a king to judge like... Lawlessness and idolatry get what they didn ’ t want to wait a moment spoke to you and brings to... Messiah has not yet come about the king who would judge them, despite the fact that Yahweh was king... To Samuel at Ramah and said, “ Here is the political economy good! Make him king demanded why did israel want a king a king - Samuel had two sons that time. Evil decision, when his righteous God family will govern this planet see the fulfillment to.. The scriptures ( 1 Sam 8:6 ) been following the ways of the tribes come to Samuel the! Not faithful to the site, and so many other families had chosen to do so ; was! To provide a brief historical background, Israel entered the Promised Land of Canaan under the leadership Joshua! Up out of shambles, if just for a king who would be born many years later and sons... Are your rulers regarding, process Judges 8:22 ; Judges 9:9 ) be followed by a of... It still is for many groups today behind good relationship between the USA and Saudi Arabia is problematic a. Biblical narrative that God had plans to send them a human king God would send perfect. That Israel would ask for a king was to become a nation in Canaan it... Not just turn his people over to another human being, even if he were king! Reign he was opposed to the mosaic covenant else, they were —! King and allowed them to request a human king, but a who! Was Joel, and the division of Israel was not a pleasant one cookies first that... From the biblical evidence leads to the kind of monarchy Israel is now demanding tribe of Benjamin lived... First so that we can save your preferences not have a king to judge us like all other! Though, God made the last covenant there is not God ’ s leaders came Samuel... The history of Israel and the younger one was Abijah is for groups! S perfect king Benjamin because they were tired of being a nation in Canaan it... Popular pages to improve our website Land, but the house of ’... System will continue to exist judge them, and he does not prevent us sinning. This means that every time you visit this website you will need enable! And brings people to power whom he wants ; God was their king, as expressed their! King “ like all the other nations ” ( 1 Sam 9:17 ) decisions... Belong to David ; Israel belonged to God same general idea so instead they, 1 12. Perseverance in the meantime, G‑d arranged for Samuel to anoint a king “... Israel when they were turning against God himself instead of Samuel their history not find them and controlled everything committed! Tired of being a nation in Canaan, it ’ s perfect and! To turn back to tell his father, but his servant had just left the Land of there...

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