“No!” they said. “We want a king over us."

[Halbhh]

People want a king. Let's start with a classic example.

Israel Asks for a King

1 When Samuel grew old....

...all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old... now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly...

10Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.

15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle c and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
1 Samuel 8 NIV

The U.S. has a lot of violence, from being too dog-eat-dog in our societal structure, and people being lost and overly focused on the material and therefore comparing themselves with others -- from not having the rich blessings that come from seeking God and His righteousness first and foremost, as their way of life.

If fewer are Christian in the future, it will only get worse I think, or else we might go totalitarian. See, to maintain over time 'freedom' and democracy -- those are strongly helped from a nation being largely Christian in real faith that fears the Lord.

Why?

Without real faith, without God as their king....then people seek a human king.

Autocracy. It's sorta like a drug to fill that void in their soul perhaps.

You get a Trump or a Putin I think when fewer people believe much in God, and begin to want a tangible real help in their hard lives (lacking the "rest" from God), they want a leader, a human king.

Biden (even if followed for a time by more non-autocratic) is a temporary reprieve if we are losing widespread real faith in God in this nation.

But lately there is some resurgence though. It's not set in stone. Maybe even a revival is possible....

 

[Halbhh]

In a more healthy America, like we sometimes tended towards a bit in the last 70 years at times, we might get an Eisenhower or a Reagan, a Carter or an Obama -- presidents that don't really want to be imperial (or not overly much)....

Presidents that instead of acting like a king act like a servant.

That's a slightly better moment for a nation like ours. Where the people didn't want an autocratic ruler, but a functionary servant.

But all the nations of this world even at their best aren't the answer.

Only God is.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

When I look at that passage I imagine people saying, No we want a pope over us.

 

[Halbhh]

When I look at that passage I imagine people saying, No we want a pope over us.

It can be like that i think. If the people want the pope to fight their battles for them. To vanquish their imagined or real enemies, instead of trusting in God for their shelter

 

[bèlla]

God was never king over the United States. A nation beholden to Him wouldn’t have our history or continuance. He would have judged it long ago. And it wouldn’t be a religious melting pot.

 

[Halbhh]

God was never king over the United States. A nation beholden to Him wouldn’t have our history or continuance. He would have judged it long ago. And it wouldn’t be a religious melting pot.

Yes, hardly any nation. Even Israel only at times.

 

[shilohsfoal]

People want a king. Let's start with a classic example.

Israel Asks for a King

1 When Samuel grew old....

...all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old... now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly...

10Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.

15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle c and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
1 Samuel 8 NIV

The U.S. has a lot of violence, from being too dog-eat-dog in our societal structure, and people being lost and overly focused on the material and therefore comparing themselves with others -- from not having the rich blessings that come from seeking God and His righteousness first and foremost, as their way of life.

If fewer are Christian in the future, it will only get worse I think, or else we might go totalitarian. See, to maintain over time 'freedom' and democracy -- those are strongly helped from a nation being largely Christian in real faith that fears the Lord.

Why?

Without real faith, without God as their king....then people seek a human king.

Autocracy. It's sorta like a drug to fill that void in their soul perhaps.

You get a Trump or a Putin I think when fewer people believe much in God, and begin to want a tangible real help in their hard lives (lacking the "rest" from God), they want a leader, a human king.

Biden (even if followed for a time by more non-autocratic) is a temporary reprieve if we are losing widespread real faith in God in this nation.

But lately there is some resurgence though. It's not set in stone. Maybe even a revival is possible....

What the Lord told Samuel to tell the children of Israel is about Israel. It has Alot to do with who israel chooses now. After rejecting Christ 2000 years ago as king of Israel, Israel has now chosen a king to rule over them. Soon that king will give them his mark that they may not buy or sell, save they recieve his mark.
As of now Israel must give thier sons and daughters to thier king at the age of 18 to serve him. The mark they will recieve is for tax collection.
There is no doubt, they will cry out. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

[shilohsfoal]

Here is more about thier king they have chosen.

Amos 5:26 NIV: You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god -- which you made for yourselves.

His symbol, which is a star is seen on his flag.
They just celebrated national flag day. Oh how they love thier goverment, his flag, and his country. Oh how they love it so.