July 01, 2012

God's Place in Humanity's Plan

It was a time of change, the end of an era, a move from one way of life to another. Most people favored the change. The question is: Was it what God wanted? Israel wanted a king. They wanted to be like other nations. It was a move from theocracy to monarchy, from the rule of God to the rule of humanity.

Why Israel Demanded a King

God was recognized as King of Israel from the earliest days of the nation. In fact, when the grateful people of Israel tried to honor Gideon by making him king, he responded, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you" (Judg. 8:23). In light of this long history of commitment to the kingship of God, why did Israel suddenly insist that Samuel appoint a king? Let's find out in this week's article.