rom the time God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He ruled over them as an invisible King. He did not rule with authority like a human king, but rather loved and cared for them like a father for his children; he healed them like a physician, fought for them like a general, guided them like GPS—by clouds by day and fire by night. In the scorching desert of Sinai, He gave them rain through the clouds and daily manna, and water from the rocks to sustain them. The eternal God was everything they needed; nothing else was required. When Canaan was conquered, He fought city after city for them. Even when they broke their covenant with Him, made idols, and worshipped other gods, He forgave them and accepted them.

Yet the Israelites did not desire their excellent King. " So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king." (1 Samuel 8:4-7) Why did the Israelites reject their excellent King? There is no just reason; it was simply due to their foolishness and their desire to adopt the customs of other nations.

"After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’  But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.” " (1 Samuel 10:17-19)

The Customs of a Human King

God instructed Samuel to tell the people what the human king would do to them. "So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots. 12 He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. 16 And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”" (1 Samuel 8:10-18) Although their king warned them about what would be done them, they did not listen.

The Israelites Wanted to Be Like the Other Nations

Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.  Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20). The Israelites desired to be like other nations even though God had uniquely helped them. Do we also admire non-believers? Do we desire to be like them?

God Chooses Saul as King

God chose Saul to be king according to the Israelites' request. Saul was handsome and distinguished; there was no one among the Israelites more handsome than him, and he was taller than any of his contemporaries (1 Samuel 9:2). When the people saw Saul, they rejoiced and felt confident that he could fight their battles. But could Saul truly fight on their behalf as they expected?

A Man Greater Than the King of Israel

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.  Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.  The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them. Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height, and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels, and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. In addition, his shield bearer went before him. And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and labor for us.” Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!” On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid. (1 Samuel 17:1-11).

Who created Goliath? Was it not God who formed him? Why did He make him so much greater than others? Did the Israelites believe their king would fight for them, leading them to create a giant greater than their ruler? Although Saul was taller and stronger than any man, could he stand up to fight Goliath? Do we not often rely on people, money, or knowledge instead of trusting in God. And when faced with problems that neither people, wealth, nor knowledge can solve, do we not also become discouraged and afraid?

Just as the Israelites were greatly discouraged and terrified by Goliath's loud voice, so too do we grow discouraged and fearful when facing difficulties we cannot resolve.

The prophet Jeremiah speaks about the people's rejection of God

Throughout the generations, the Israelites had forsaken their King, their God, and their covenant. In sorrowful words, Jeremiah wrote: "This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves? They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land, and made My inheritance detestable. The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols. " (Jeremiah 2:5-8)

The Israelites had become completely ruined because they turned away from the Lord. Even today, most people seem to still turn their backs on the eternal God. This is why they constantly need to defend themselves against their brothers—the Arabs—who hate them so much that they wish to wipe them off the face of the earth.

A Lesson for Us

Like the Israelites of old, we shall suffer greatly in this life and ultimately face eternal punishment in hell if, while outwardly professing faith in the Eternal Lord with our lips, we inwardly fail to truly receive Him. This is a tragic sorrow. If we are spiritually blind and deaf, we remain unable to fear or grieve as we ought. If that were true, it would indeed be a hopeless situation with no remedy. Therefore, let us not only accept the Lord as our Savior but also receive Him as our King.

 

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