1 Samuel 8:18, commentary and pictures

Samuel spoke under God's direction to protest Israel's demand for a king like the nations to judge them, declaring plainly that it was not the right and best way. Their demand was a sinful rebellion that rejected God as divine King and special leader, preferring visible human power to His unseen guidance, providence and deliverance in order to be like the world. He warned that their chosen king would be exalted with honor due to God, take their children for his service, seize land and property, exact heavy tribute and a tenth of income and produce, and oppress them without judging justly or teaching the Lord's ways. Because they refused to let the warning change their purpose, God listened to their voice and gave them a king in anger to have their own way, and once the monarchy was established they could not end it but would cry out in distress under its burden without the Lord hearing or delivering them. The same folly is repeated today when God's people with self-confidence lean on men and worldly policy to be like other nations, and the safeguard is greater humility with less confidence in self and more trust in God shown by much more praying.

Israel's Rejection of God

1 Samuel 8:18 is the solemn protest spoken under God's direction through Samuel against Israel's demand for a king to judge them like all the nations, plainly declaring that demanding a king was not the right and best way but would bring trouble that would make them cry out. The demand was a sinful, rebellious departure from God, rejecting Him as divine King and special leader in favor of a human ruler. It showed lack of faith in His providence and in His unseen guidance and deliverance, following instead the nations that did not acknowledge God.

In wanting to be like the other nations and to be recognized by the world, the people left their first love and grew weary of God's will and ways and merciful guidance. They preferred visible human power to the divine power that had led and protected them. Choosing a king meant discarding God's appointed servant before God had released him, and in spiritual blindness separating from God's management and control and refusing to be under His jurisdiction. It was choosing human judgment, worldly policy, and a new order of things that had not entered God's mind, instead of being led and controlled by the Lord and knowing the blessing and safety of being led by Him in all their ways.

The warning detailed what that king would exact: exalted and claiming the honor due to God, he would demand honors and heavy tribute, taxation and service, taking their children for his service, seizing land and property, and claiming a tenth of income and produce. He would oppress them, and unlike former rulers he would not judge their disputes or teach them the Lord's ways. His authority would be used to raise up the unworthy while making the innocent suffer and to lead the people away from God.

Consequences of Chosen King

Israel persisted in following its own mind and judgment for imagined national glory, refusing to let the solemn warning change its purpose and casting aside divine wisdom, and therefore God listened to the voice of the people, permitted them to have their own way, and granted the desire of their unsanctified hearts by giving them a king in anger. The demand itself was wrongful, for it chose a human ruler in place of God as divine King and followed the nations that did not acknowledge Him, despite His unseen guidance and deliverance. God plainly told them through Samuel that this was not the right and best way but would bring trouble that would make them cry out, yet He let their choice stand.

Plans laid without His Spirit react upon their makers, so once the monarchy was established it could not simply be ended when its exactions became oppressive. The people would cry out in distress and oppression under the burdens imposed by the king of their own choice, including additional taxation and service. By rejecting God's reign for human rule they brought upon themselves the distress that afterward came from that choice.

In that day when they cried out under that burden the Lord would not hear or deliver them. He would not display His mighty power for them as He had in Egypt. This refusal to answer was part of the warning given beforehand, showing the painful consequence of rejecting God's warnings and choosing human rule instead.

The warning was verified in later history, for the choice shows how seeking worldly status and approval leads to patterning after the world. The people later recognized their desire for a king as a mistake as they saw the ruler's example spreading irreligion and godlessness. Having preferred visible human power to the divine power that had led and protected them, their choice was followed by the destruction of Jerusalem and the nation's dispersion.

Warning Against Trusting Men

The verse warns against renouncing God's rule for a worldly model and turning away from divine guidance. Israel chose an earthly king to be like the surrounding nations despite the Lord's warning, preferring visible human power to the divine power that had led and protected them. Depending on people rather than God in this way weakens God's people and turns aside the work He would do through them. Their choice brought distress in which the Lord would not hear their cries, and it was followed by the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the nation.

The folly of Samuel's day will be repeated among God's people today when with self-confidence they lean on men and on their own judgment after worldly plans and policy instead of trusting the Lord as Ruler. Leaving their first love, they want to be like other nations and to be recognized by the world, seeking worldly status, approval, gain and praise by patterning themselves after the world. By their own voice they choose to be ruled by human judgment, worldly policy, and a new order of things that has not entered God's mind instead of being led and controlled by the Lord. In spiritual blindness they discard God's appointed servant before God has released him, separate themselves from God's management and control, and refuse to be under His jurisdiction because they do not know the blessing and safety of being led by Him in all their ways. God listens to the voice of the people and lets their choice stand, but plans laid without His Spirit react upon the makers, so the warning was verified and will be verified again.

The safeguard is greater humility with less confidence in self and more trust in God, so that men no longer lean on men or their own judgment but make God their trust. Only then will the work abide the test, as divine power is combined with human effort through dependence on God and the mind of Christ. That dependence is shown by less talking and much more praying, by meekness of spirit, and by caution in plans and movements.