Listen "#152 | 1 Samuel: Israel Asks for A King - Prematurely"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, we discuss one of the most pivotal moments in Israel's history: their request for a king as recorded in 1 Samuel 8:1-9. This moment marks a significant turning point, not just in Israel’s political structure, but in their spiritual journey as a nation, as well.
Many have misunderstood this episode as God rejecting the very idea of kingship in Israel. However, as we’ll explore, kingship had always been part of God’s plan, embedded in His covenant promises to Abraham, Jacob, and Judah.
The problem wasn’t the request for a king itself, but the timing and motivation behind it. Much like Adam and Eve’s decision to prematurely eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Israel’s demand for a king was driven by a desire to be like the nations around them, revealing a deeper issue of idolatry. Samuel sums up their request as a rejection of God’s kingship—a longing for a substitute that could replace God’s presence and rule in their lives.
We then draw a connection to the New Testament, where Jesus faced a similar temptation in John 6. The crowds wanted to make Him king by force, but Jesus, in His wisdom, resisted a premature ascent to kingship. Instead, He submitted to the Father’s appointed time and way for installing him as king, going through the necessary developmental process that would lead Him to the cross and ultimately to His resurrection as the true King of Israel.
In our next episode, we’ll explore God’s ideal vision for kingship in Israel—one that stood in stark contrast to the nations around them—and discuss the implications for our understanding of the kingship of Jesus in the New Testament.
Key Scriptures:
1 Samuel 8:1-9
God promises kings to Abraham, Jacob, and Judah: Genesis 17:1-6; 35:11-12; 49:10
John 6:15-21
Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.org
Leave us a question or comment at our website podcast page.
* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music
Many have misunderstood this episode as God rejecting the very idea of kingship in Israel. However, as we’ll explore, kingship had always been part of God’s plan, embedded in His covenant promises to Abraham, Jacob, and Judah.
The problem wasn’t the request for a king itself, but the timing and motivation behind it. Much like Adam and Eve’s decision to prematurely eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Israel’s demand for a king was driven by a desire to be like the nations around them, revealing a deeper issue of idolatry. Samuel sums up their request as a rejection of God’s kingship—a longing for a substitute that could replace God’s presence and rule in their lives.
We then draw a connection to the New Testament, where Jesus faced a similar temptation in John 6. The crowds wanted to make Him king by force, but Jesus, in His wisdom, resisted a premature ascent to kingship. Instead, He submitted to the Father’s appointed time and way for installing him as king, going through the necessary developmental process that would lead Him to the cross and ultimately to His resurrection as the true King of Israel.
In our next episode, we’ll explore God’s ideal vision for kingship in Israel—one that stood in stark contrast to the nations around them—and discuss the implications for our understanding of the kingship of Jesus in the New Testament.
Key Scriptures:
1 Samuel 8:1-9
God promises kings to Abraham, Jacob, and Judah: Genesis 17:1-6; 35:11-12; 49:10
John 6:15-21
Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.org
Leave us a question or comment at our website podcast page.
* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music