What’s it like having the all-powerful God as your King?

This is one way of summarizing the question answered by the narrative of 1 Samuel 1-12. While you might think the answer to the question should be enthusiastically positive, this section of narrative depicts Israel struggling through life as the people whose King is the Creator of the Universe, to the point that they eventually plead for ‘a king like all the other nations’ (1 Samuel 8:5). To be a people defined by the Word of God, who worship in Spirit and Truth and who practise real justice according to the character of our God isn’t easy—it wasn’t easy then, and it isn’t easy now.

Throughout the next six weeks, we’re going to look into the life of Israel as depicted in 1 Samuel 1-12—the people whose King is God, but preferred an earthly king. These twelve chapters of 1 Samuel are something like a prologue to Israel’s monarchy—the build-up to the demand for a king. While we won’t get to explore the kingship of Saul or David (for now), this narrative provides important insight into what a good king in God’s eyes might look like and what it looks like to live under appointed leaders, while still ultimately worshipping God.

May we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be the people whose King is God our Creator. 1 Samuel is painfully honest about how difficult this calling can be, which is encouraging to us as we navigate life as the people of God today. Most importantly, 1 Samuel 1-12 demonstrates powerfully that, while some people can be provisionally good and godly leaders, no human can ultimately be the King that we need. Only Jesus, the Son of God—the Messiah who came to establish the Kingdom of God—can lead us in righteous life and worship before God. And so, as we encounter our God as revealed in the pages of 1 Samuel, my prayer is that His Kingdom of Peace will be established here, among us and will spread through us to the world.  Read more