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 since the days on the Plains
of Moab, waiting to cross the Jordan. They had made a covenant acknowledging
God as their king. The Deuteronomic Covenant between Israel and Yahweh was modeled
after treaties made between a king and his vassal (subject nation). God was the
king and Israel was the subject.
In verse seven, 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?
Deuteronomy 17 serves as a warning to Israel regarding the
dangers of choosing a king over God and provides guidelines for kingly
behavior. 1 Kings 10 and 11 paints a picture of Solomon depicting the mirror
image of everything the nation had been warned against.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Does what your neighbor has
look better to you than what you have? Ask God to help you appreciate his many
blessings in your life. A gratitude list is a good place to start.
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