In the previous post, we learned that after the Israelite elders ask Samuel to give them a king, God warns them that while having a king might sound effective or powerful like the nations around them, it could easily backfire. That warning didn’t make a dent in the elders’ desire for a king. In 1st Samuel 8 verses 19-20, the people seem to intensify their request for a king, citing how a king will lead them and fight their battles.
What are they talking about? It sounds to me like they want a super soldier. A super hero. One man to go out before them and fight their battles? Perhaps they are blinded by desire. They want a king so badly, they have become totally unrealistic in their expectations. One man cannot possibly fight their battles for them.
Before we get too hard on the Israelites, do we not do the same? We American Christians can fool ourselves into believe that if so-and-so gets elected, then they will make things better in our country. “If our guy becomes President,” we say or we feel inside, “then finally we’ll be okay.” We, too, can put way too much emphasis and hope in humans to bring peace and flourishing around us. We should look ourselves in the mirror and ask, are we guilty of the same misplaced hopes that they Israelites are demonstrating in this passage?
Despite their unrealistic expectations, chapter 8 concludes with God instructing Samuel to give the people a king. God’s words in verse 22 are some of the saddest words in the Bible. There is God, the one true king, the only one worthy to be king, the only one with power, and he and says, “Listen to them and give them a king.” I suspect there is a disappointment in God’s tone.
It reminds me teenage or young adult kids explaining a business idea to their parents, then asking their parents for a loan. Inwardly, the parents are thinking “That’s the stupidest idea I ever heard,” but outwardly they say, “Okay, I’ll loan you the money,” knowing they aren’t getting any money back from this venture.
It reminds me of Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son who says to his father, “Give me my share of the inheritance now,” which is culturally-speaking equivalent to saying, “Father, I want you dead now.” But the Father gives the son the money, knowing the son is not in any place emotionally, spiritually, or in maturity to use the money wisely.
So in verse 22, Samuel tells the people to go home, and in chapter 9, verses 1-2, we meet an Israelite man named Saul, who is both handsome and tall. That means he was recognizable. He might be assumed to be intimidating or capable with a sword. Maybe he could be the superhero king the Israelite elders desire?
We’ll find out how Saul responds in the next post.
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash