Spiritual life in Israel has degenerated into a wild free-for-all. The spirit of the days of the Judges continues unabated into the days of the prophet Samuel. Even Samuel, despite his faithful leadership, cannot influence his own sons to resist the carnal, self-serving mood of the day. Israel is a mess!

This is the moment the people choose to clamor for a king. Samuel’s insistence on following God chaffs on the national collective consciousness, but even these spiritual deadbeats can’t imagine being governed by Samuel’s worthless sons. They want a king.

Samuel is upset as you might imagine. In all probability he is mad at the people, mad at his rebellious sons and mad at himself. But he does what he has been doing his entire life; he prays. God immediately tells him that he should not take this personally. The people are really rejecting God’s rule over them, not Samuel’s. Samuel, after all, has only been God’s representative.

With an edge to his voice, Samuel warns the people of the consequences of what they are asking. This king they want will draft their sons and send them to war. Their daughters will end up in forced labor. Their properties will be confiscated and the taxes will be unbearable.

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. 1Samuel 8:19-22

The interesting aspect of all this is that the people are asking for something biblical. God himself has promised them a king. It’s just the wrong time and the wrong motive. The people reveal their immaturity by crying for a king so that they may be like all the other nations. The desire to be like everyone else is a powerful motivation; it’s also a fatally dangerous motivation. The lesson is that you can pray for something solidly biblical, yet with horrible timing and a wicked heart.

The greatest danger, though, is that God just might give you what you ask for! That’s exactly what happens in this case. David was the man God had selected to be king, but he was not yet ready. Instead, God answers Israel’s prayer and the consequences are tragic. Becareful not only what you ask for, but when, how and why you ask for it.