GIVE US A KING!
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: 1 Samuel 8:1-22
Supporting Texts: Hosea 13:10-11, Deuteronomy 17:14-20, Romans 12:2, Judges 8:22-23, John 18:36
INTRODUCTION:
The cry for a king in 1 Samuel 8 was not merely a political request; it was a spiritual rebellion. Israel had been uniquely governed by God—He was their Lawgiver, Defender, and Ruler. But the people, desiring to be like the surrounding nations, rejected the theocracy God had established and demanded a human monarchy. This marked a tragic turning point in Israel's history—a shift from divine dependence to worldly imitation.
Though the request appeared logical—Samuel was aging, and his sons were corrupt—it was rooted in carnality. They no longer wanted God's unseen leadership; they desired the visible glory and structure of human systems. Their plea was not for righteousness or justice but for conformity to the nations around them. This reveals the dangerous tendency of God's people to exchange spiritual distinctiveness for worldly acceptance.
God granted their request, not as a reward but as a response to their hardened hearts. He warned them solemnly through Samuel, listing the heavy consequences of a king's rule. Yet, they insisted. The lesson here is sobering: when God's people persistently reject His rule, He may allow their desires to teach them the weight of disobedience. This passage reminds us that the desire to fit into the world’s system often leads us away from God’s perfect will.
1. A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP, BUT A DEEPER FAILURE OF TRUST
a) Samuel's Sons Did Not Walk in His Ways (1 Samuel 8:1–3)
Joel and Abijah were corrupt, taking bribes and perverting justice. Their actions gave the people an excuse to seek change.
b) Leadership Abuses Can Provoke Crisis
Poor leadership opens the door for rebellion. When authority is compromised, people look for alternatives—even ungodly ones.
c) The People Asked for a King (1 Samuel 8:4–5)
Instead of returning to God in prayer and repentance, the elders demanded a human ruler. Their response was fleshly, not spiritual.
d) Trust in God Was Replaced by Trust in Man
Their eyes were no longer on God as their Shepherd and Defender. They wanted someone they could see—like the nations around them.
Biblical Example: After Gideon's victory, Israel asked him to rule as king, but he refused, saying, “The Lord shall rule over you” (Judges 8:22–23).
2. THE ROOT OF THEIR REQUEST: WORLDLINESS AND REJECTION OF GOD
a) “Make Us a King Like All the Nations” (1 Samuel 8:5, 20)
Their desire was to fit in—not to be led righteously. They wanted cultural similarity, not spiritual separation.
b) God's People Are Called to Be Different (Leviticus 20:26)
Israel was meant to be distinct, set apart for God. Wanting to be like others undermines our identity as a holy nation.
c) God Interpreted Their Request as Rejection (1 Samuel 8:7)
God said, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” Rebellion against spiritual authority is ultimately rebellion against God.
d) They Forgot God's Faithfulness in Past Victories
God had delivered them from Egypt, led them through battles, and raised judges like Deborah, Gideon, and Samuel. Yet they chose human methods over divine might.
Biblical Example: In Hosea 13:10–11, God lamented, “I gave you a king in My anger and took him away in My wrath.”
3. GOD'S WARNING ABOUT EARTHLY SYSTEMS
a) Samuel Declared the Manner of the King (1 Samuel 8:11–18)
God told Samuel to solemnly warn them: a king would draft their sons, take their daughters, seize their fields, and enslave them to his service.
b) Earthly Leadership Comes With Costs
Human government, no matter how noble, always has limitations. When men rule without submission to God, oppression follows.
c) The Desire for Control Often Brings Bondage
In seeking a king, they were unknowingly signing up for servitude. They wanted power, but they would lose freedom.
d) God Foretold Their Future Cry (1 Samuel 8:18)
He warned, “You will cry out because of your king…but the Lord will not hear you in that day.” Choices made in rebellion bring consequences that sometimes cannot be reversed.
Biblical Example: In Babylon, Israel wept under foreign kings—a result of their long history of rejecting God’s lordship (Psalm 137:1–4).
4. THE STUBBORNNESS OF THE HUMAN HEART
a) They Refused to Listen to Samuel (1 Samuel 8:19)
Even after being warned, they said, “No! But we will have a king over us.” Rebellion blinds the heart to divine counsel.
b) They Desired the Form Without the Spirit
They wanted a structured government but were unwilling to deal with the heart issues. Outward systems can’t replace inward devotion.
c) Emotional Decisions Can Override Spiritual Discernment
In moments of frustration, people often choose what looks appealing instead of waiting on God’s plan.
d) When People Choose What God Did Not Ordain, They Pay the Price
God may permit our decisions, but that doesn’t mean He approves them. His permissive will is not His perfect will.
Biblical Example: Lot chose Sodom because it looked prosperous, but it led to destruction (Genesis 13:10–13; 19:24–26).
5. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY EVEN IN HUMAN STUBBORNNESS
a) God Told Samuel to Give Them What They Asked For (1 Samuel 8:22)
God allowed them to have a king—not as a blessing, but as a lesson. Sometimes God allows our choices to teach us wisdom.
b) God Still Worked Through the Monarchy
Though the request was wrong, God later raised David, a man after His heart, to show His ability to redeem broken systems.
c) God’s Kingdom Is Still Superior to Human Rule
The best of earthly kings pale before the King of kings. Human systems will fail, but God's rule is eternal and flawless.
d) Jesus, the Perfect King, Is the Ultimate Fulfilment
While Israel sought Saul, God had already prepared David—and beyond David, the true King, Jesus Christ, who reigns forever.
Biblical Example: In John 18:36, Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” His rule is not political but spiritual, eternal, and redemptive.
CONCLUSION:
Israel’s demand for a king teaches us that rejecting divine rule in favour of human systems leads to spiritual loss. What began as a political reform ended in spiritual rebellion. They sought what others had, forgetting that what made them powerful was not structure, but submission. God's people must never trade divine identity for cultural relevance. When we reject God's leadership, we lose His covering, His voice, and His favour.
Yet even in their stubbornness, God’s mercy endured. He worked through their request to bring about His redemptive plan. But the lesson remains: be careful what you demand when your heart is not fully submitted. Don’t ask for what will lead you away from God. In every season, let our cry not be, “Give us a king,” but “Lord, reign over us.” For only His rule brings peace, righteousness, and lasting fulfilment.
