Divine Warning on Political Leadership: Insights from Israel’s Request for a King

Israel Demands a King

Reflecting on the Trump presidency makes one think of Israel’s demand for a king in 1 Samuel 8. The current state of the Republican Party also brings this to mind. The story of Samuel anointing Saul as Israel’s king can teach us a great deal about choosing our political leaders (1 Sam. 8:1-21). Things went well with Israel under Samuel’s administration. Samuel was growing old and appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. Israel was discontent with the present government. The elders gathered together and petitioned Samuel to set a king over them (v. 4-5). The matter was displeasing to Samuel so he prays to the Lord (v. 6). God directs Samuel to give them what they wanted, by way of reproof because they had rejected God (v. 7- 8), setting forth the consequences of a change of the government, and how uneasy they would soon be under it noting that they would one day regret it (v. 9-18). The people refused to listen and insisted upon their petition. Their desire to be like other nations would soon reveal how disobedience to God’s wisdom would cause trouble (v. 19-20). So Samuel promises them, from God, that they shall shortly be gratified, (v. 21-22). Thus hard is it for people to know when they are well off.

So all the Israel’s elders gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have” (1:Sam. 4-5).

They said to Samuel, “Give us a king to lead us,” Now mind you, this was not God’s plan for Israel. Samuel was displeased so prayed to the Lord.⁷ And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” (v. 6-7),

This is what the Lord said, “Since the day I brought them up out of Egypt, they have forsaken me. They have served other gods until this day. In the same way, they are doing to you. Now listen to them. Warn them solemnly. Let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” (v. 8-9).

Remember that God adds a warning to his answer. “The king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people. He let them know this would be the practice of who will reign over you. The king will claim as his rights: He will take your sons. They will serve with his chariots and horses. They will run in front of his chariots. He will assign commanders of thousands. He will also assign commanders of fifties. Others will be assigned to plow his ground and reap his harvest. Still others will make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

It doesn’t stop there. He also told them the king would “take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.” He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen. The Lord will not answer you in that day.

Samuel saw the ungodly motive behind the elders’ appeal for a king. God told him to fulfill the people’s demand. This was not because their plea was good or right, but because God would teach Israel through this. Sometimes we insist on having things our way. Even if it’s bad for us, God will let us have it. Then he will teach us through it.

Today’s enthusiam for political solutions the moral problems of our culture arises from a distorted view of both politics and spirituality — too low a view of the power of a sovereign God and to high a view of the ability of man.

Chuck Colson, God & Government: An Insider’s View of the Boundaries Between Faith & Politics

Why does the story of Israel’s plea for a king resonate in my spirit? The conservative right desired a president they believe would give them what they wanted. Their allegiance to former President Trump often appears as if they view him as a king. They are willing to shutdown the government for him. They also hold an impeachment inquiry without valid evidence of a crime. They believe the fallacy that he “alone can fix it” and “make American great again”. Even if they are doing this to appease the former president, this is not why governing authorities were established. They were created for the common good of the nation.

All presidencies will have successes and failures. Nevertheless, it seems as though Trump believes he is a “king” or an authoritarian. This belief is not in the best interest of a democratic society. He tends to use the terms “my or mine” when it comes to the justice department, military, and government documents. He speaks of them as if they are his possessions. If reelected has vowed that to wield his power to personally  get revenge against his political enemies and the government. What alarms me most is when he said “I am your retribution”.

Romans 12:17-20 (NLT) says, “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be “heaping coals of fire on his head.”

God is just in all his dealings with humanity.

Notes: Unless otherwise identified, scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible.

A. Francine Green is an ordained minister and the author of Daughter of the King: Possessing Your Spiritual Inheritance .