1 Samuel 8:10-18 - Count the Cost

Did the request for a king by the people of Israel come as a surprise to God? Of course not! For long before this happens, God already saw it coming. So in Deuteronomy 17: 14-17 He said this to them, “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’ He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.”

So, in 1 Samuel 8, the moment God had predicted, arrived. Just as He had expected, the people came to Samuel asking for a king so that they could be like all the other nations. The prophet considered their request as an indication that they were rejecting him as their leader. God assured him that they were not. And instead told Samuel that they were, in fact, rejecting the arrangement He Himself had made for them. In asking for a king like the other nations, they were really renouncing their status as God’s covenant people and were rejecting God’s rulership in their lives. Samuel then went ahead and warned them about what it would be like under an earthly king. Verses 11-17 warned of what would become of their sons, daughters, and property. God wanted them to know the high cost of having a  king. Up till now, God would come to their rescue whenever they called out to Him. But the privilege would change drastically. When their king had been installed, they should not expect that God would hear their cry for help as readily.

The lesson from these verses is more than just about choosing a king. It has to do with attaining a fruitful and fulfilling life. It is about the willingness to be led and guided by God. He had drawn us to Himself and He wants to walk with us so that He can help us fulfill His plan and purpose in us. Following God often means that we will have to submit to Him and go against our stubborn ingrained nature. This calls for discipline. But humanly speaking, we would much prefer an easier way, someone to do the work for us and something less demanding to the flesh. But like it or not, though they may be less punishing, they cannot bring the best out of us. This is where we need to choose. Do we want a more comfortable life and forfeit the greater blessings a disciplined life will bring? Or do we prefer to live with ease now and fail to attain our maximum potential? Worldly leadership may bring us immediate gain but does not consider long-term pain. God’s leadership may not give us an immediate gain but we will definitely avoid long-term pain. We need to count the cost. Choose wisely and go for God’s best!