The Everlasting Covenant

Rejecting God by Choosing a King

The same principle was involved when the people wanted a king. Read the account in 1 Samuel 8. The people said to Samuel, “Give us a king to judge us like all the nations.” The thing displeased Samuel, and doubtless hurt his feelings, but the people insisted, saying, “Give us a king to judge us.” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “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. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.” EVCO 398.1

Then Samuel, at the command of the Lord, set before the people some of the evils that would result if they had a king; but they refused to be persuaded, saying, “Nay, but we will have a king over us, that we may be like all the nations.” EVCO 398.2