Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 8 and Psalm 55

When God’s people came to Samuel demanding a king, God diagnosed the situation and told Samuel: “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” This demand for a human king was really a demand to be allowed to be just like the other nations (v.5). They wanted to fit in. They no longer wanted an invisible King who ruled through His prophet. They wanted a flesh and blood king.

Samuel prophetically foresaw that the end result of this course of action would effectively be an economic and personal slavery for the people of God. But the people believed they knew better. Verses 19-20 say: “The people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. Then we shall be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.’”

God was no longer enough for them. The miraculous victory of 1 Samuel 7 was long forgotten, and they simply would not retract their demand for a human king. So God allowed their demand.

It seems patently foolish. But how often have we not also dethroned the Almighty King from the throne of our lives, only to enthrone an utterly fallible, mortal king … namely, ourselves.

Father, I acknowledge it is true. Almost daily, I take back control of my own decisions and fail to live a fully surrendered life. Please forgive me, and please give me the grace to continue to submit to Your Lordship. Please take (and keep) Your rightful place on the throne of my life. Amen!