Appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have. (1 Samuel 8:5)Israel was unlike any other nation, enjoying a relationship with God unlike any other nation. But falling for the first rule of coveting: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, Israel decided it didn't want what it had. Israel wanted what everyone else had. Remember Judges 21:25? In those days Israel had no king. They wanted a king - someone they could see, hear and touch.
The truth is, Israel had a king. They had a king since their days on the Plains of Moab, waiting to cross the Jordan. Deuteronomy contained a covenant wherein Israel acknowledged God as their king. That Deuteronomic Covenant was modeled after treaties made between kings and their vassals (subject nations). But now Israel wanted out.
In verse 7, God speaks to Samuel: They have rejected me as their king. Did Israel have any idea what it was giving up, and what it was getting itself into?
When's the last time you were tempted to trade what you have for what your neighbors have? How'd that work out for you?
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