“Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7). That was the Lord’s response to Samuel when Israel demanded a king. They hadn’t rejected Samuel’s leadership, they had rejected the Lord’s kingship.
Israel was supposed to be a theocracy, a nation whose king was the Lord. Rather than have the Lord rule over them, they wanted to be like all the other nations (1 Sam. 8:5). Israel didn’t want to stand out and be a peculiar people. Instead they wanted to blend in.
Samuel revealed to Israel what having a king and being like other nations looked liked: The king will take your sons to be his soldiers; he will appoint leaders will the sole purpose of making weapons for war; he will take your daughters to be his servants; he will take your fields, and vineyards to give to his servants; he will tax your income; and you will cry out to the Lord wishing that you never asked for a king (1 Sam. 8:10-18).
You would think that hearing such a warning would change their minds. But it didn’t. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said ‘Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we may be like all the nations” (1 Sam. 10:19-20).
Israel was willing to sacrifice their freedom, families, possessions, and identity so they could be like all the other nations. What a sad indictment! In place of being God’s distinct people, representing Him to all nations, they settled for being like the masses.
Sadly there are many Christians willing to forfeit their spiritual freedom, families, possessions, and identity of being God’s people, for the sake of blending in with the world. Beloved, God didn’t save us so we can be like the world. God saved us that we might stand out and be a witness of God’s glory. The apostle Peter said it best, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pt. 2:9).