Israel's First "Visible" King

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’” (1 Samuel 8:4)

This was the request by the Children of Israel to Samuel.

In response, God said to Samuel:

“Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7)

Throughout the Book of Judges (that chronologically precedes the Book of 1 Samuel), we see that the Children of Israel turned astray from God – their invisible King – whenever there was no visible leadership in place (through the judges).

If the people refused to obey the invisible King, would they now obey a visible king?

The permanent values of the Book are in two statements:

1. Its supreme revelation is that of God reigning by adaptation, in order to advance; and

2. It reveals the fact that under this government of God, men must cooperate with Him through obedience.

It is one thing to reject God, but it is quite another thing to dethrone Him. The first is possible, but the second is impossible.

Whether we like it or not, God – our invisible King – will have His way according to His Divine plan in the grand expanse of this universe, and that includes within each of our individual lives. Thus, we must cooperate with Him through obedience to His ways, not our own.