“And said to the Israelites, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: It was I Who brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. But you have this day rejected your God, Who Himself saves you from all your calamities and distresses; and you have said to Him, No! Set a king over us. So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭10‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/8/1sa.10.18-19.AMPC (emphasis mine)

In 1 Samuel 8, the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel to tell him that instead of his sons ruling as judges, they wanted a king, “like all the other nations…”(1 Samuel 8:5)

Samuel was displeased as the chapter goes on to tell us, and as he was praying to God, God told him that they weren’t rejecting Samuel, but they were rejecting Him as King over them.

God told Samuel to warn them what having a king over them would look like, and Samuel did so. The people still insisted, ‘no, but there shall be a king over us, so we can be like the other nations around us, and so they can go before us and fight our battles…’

So God gave the people what they wanted.

This phrase, ‘No! Set a king over us,’ echoed in my heart as a read it.

Why in the world would the people of God want anything more than the leading of Yahweh?

In my heart I heard God ask me, “Well, why do you?”

Why do we look to our mentor, our sister in Christ, our denomination, our parents, our friend group, our pastor, our small group leader or counselor before we ask and let God be our King?

God is the One who ‘brought Israel up from Egypt.’

God is the One who ‘rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms who were oppressing them.’

But on this day —as Samuel reminded the people— ‘you have rejected your God, you have rejected the One who Himself saves you from all your disasters and distresses…’

Are we guilty of the same?

God is the One who saved you from eternal separation from Him. Not your pastor or church.

God is the One who healed your body, wrote His Word on your new heart of flesh that He gave you, not your small group leader or prayer intercessor…

Are we guilty of asking the King of Kings to put a person over us, to lead us, go before us, and fight our battles?

This is an Old Testament story, and Jesus has not yet come to rectify everything yet, so they didn’t get it.

They didn’t have the Holy Spirit within them.

But we do.

We have the Holy Presence of Emmanuel living inside the very core of our being, drawing us, talking to us, and willing to tell us anything we want to know…

And yet we still cry, “No! Set a king over us.”

‘But God! I need a mentor…’

‘I need to talk to the pastor in person…’

‘I need to find a godly mental health counselor…’

‘I need to find a person that can help me figure this out…’

What’s wrong with us?

Maybe it’s just me that does this…

Why am I so lazy, complacent, and sloth-like?

Why am I so infant-like and traumatized by anything that remotely resembles discomfort?

God, Yahweh, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, wants to lead me by His Spirit.

Can I start by praying?

Can I start by opening my Bible?

Can I go back to remembering the gospel? Can I remember what God saved us from?

Can I sit and hear His love for us?

God will always point you to other people to do life with, and community and be the church together. But He never intended people to take the place of His presence in relationship with you first.

We want to immediately turn to idolize religion, a person, a position, some man’s revelation before we esteem Christ Himself, crucified. Before we even know for ourselves what the Bible says.

Let the King of Kings be your King.

Let Him be first.

Let Him be Highest.

Let Him be Greatest.

Let Him Counsel you.

Let Him guide you.

Let Him help you.

Wait.

Sit.

Listen.

Slow down.

Empty your schedule and give Him some time.

He has so much He wants to show you.

Just like He wanted to be King Himself over Israel, He wants to be your King.

Don’t reject His ask.

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1 Samuel 8

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