1 Samuel 8

In this chapter the Israelites are coming out of a battle with the Philistines and are pleading for a king. Samuel and his sons have been removed from the table to rule, so Samuel turns to God for clarity and vision about what to do next. Don’t they see that God is the ultimate King and power over them? Well. God allows them to have a new king, but with this clarity in mind: 

“Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.

As this passage continues on, God gives the prophet Samuel a vision of what the next king will do/what his rule will look like. And, to be completely honest… it ain’t looking too good. Like the rest of the world, they desired things of the world. To want a ruler is not bad, but to desire that ruler to fix all of your problems will leave you unsatisfied and potentially separated further from God. We cannot forget that God is supreme, even against the most powerful of worldly rulers. If we’ve read this book before, we know that King Saul steps onto the scene, character flaws and all. Although, God is sovereign over this selection even if the Israelites don’t know it (or don’t seem to remember).

How are you tempted to view the world or things of this world as your savior and not God? What is on the “throne” of your heart? Repent and share with someone what God is teaching you. Choose to live in freedom of sin and strife and step into the life that is offered through our one true King.