1 Samuel 12

In your bible you will see a title that says, “Samuel’s Farewell Address”. Here the author is ending the era of judges and signaling the beginning of the age of kingship in Israel. In his speech he does point out the wickedness of the people in asking for a king - which makes us wonder…why would God appease a wicked command of his people? 

God is both self existent and self sustaining eternality, meaning he makes everything exists and continually does so as creator and sustainer, preserving creation for his will and for his glory. God doesn’t give in to any one’s command. As we know, God is the one who brings life from death. Our life given to us free from our own sin from the death and resurrection of Jesus. Yet, the wicked demand of a king from the sinners of Israel doesn’t show a weakness in God - know it highlights a sovereignty and foreshadows a perfectly heavenly King who will rule forever and ever - Jesus. 

Samuel is highlighting the difference between sinful man and his Holy Sovereign God. Not only that, but showing that even the earthly king of Israel must continue to revere, obey and worship the Most High God. In the coming history of Israel we see those who don’t cannot hide behind they earthly throne from the one who sit on the heavenly throne. 

Church - our leadership, our titles, our works cannot hide who we actually are. People who seek desires birthed from sin and in desperate need of saving. And in turn we must remember who Jesus is. He is the one who creates and sustains, the one true King who reigns calls us into his presence for worship and remembrance of the gospel daily. We must orient our lives to understand who we are - broken people and who God  is - holy, sovereign above all else. That is what Samuel is calling Israel to do in 1 Samuel 12 and what the Holy Spirit calls us to do daily.