Think about a time when you poured your heart and soul into a gift; you give it to someone with excitement and glee hiding behind your coy smile. Ooooo, they’re opening it and love it! The next day you find it tucked away in the corner of their garage. God’s presence among the Israelites represented His gift to them, that He would be their king, the ultimate king! Yet, Israel demands a king anyway… they want to be like every other nation.
The ark of the covenant…
The ark of the covenant was the place of God’s presence. He dwelled among the Israelites to reign as king.
In Chapter 5, the Philistines had battled Israel and taken the ark. This was unacceptable that the ark, where God dwelled, was now in foreign territory. The tabernacle had been constructed and would host the ark of the covenant securely, it was where God would meet with Moses.
The ark was used to lead the people. In the 40 years of desert wandering, the Kohathites led the way with the ark. To signify the crossing of the Jordan River with parted water, the ark led the way. The Israelites were even instructed to lead the way with it during the battle of Jericho.
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The Israelites found out the hard way that the presence of the ark did not automatically signify victory in battle. In Chapter 4, they treat it almost as though a good luck charm instead of understanding the God, their king, behind the item.
The ark represented Him…
The ark hosted the greatest king of all time. A gold plated mercy seat, the entire thing covered in gold, two huge cherubim on top. It was beautiful!
After nations would win battles, they would loot and pillage; this was the ultimate loot for the Philistines to grab. At least they thought so. Their treatment of the ark by putting it in the temple of their god was disgraceful; they were proud of course thinking their god had defeated God.
It is almost comical that after being set next to each other, the wood/stone/gold idol that they worshiped would end up face down each morning in front of the ark. How’s that for a wake-up call as to who was superior?!
Then their god is shattered in front of them, it’s head and hands broken off. Their god was not capable of thought or might. God demonstrates that He is. The city of Ashdod erupts with tumors and panic; moving the ark does no good as Gath and Ekron received the same fate once they were in receipt of the ark.
Little did the Israelites know that by their misunderstanding the use of the ark, it would still be used to show the nations His power. It was used to show the ultimate power of the Israelites’ king.
An additional blow to their god…
The time of harvest was a celebratory season. It was host to additional sacrifices and excitement as it was a major source of food. The Philistines’ god, Dagon, was thought to be a grain god. If you will recall, Samson thumbed his nose at Dagon when he tied the foxes together and sent them to burn up their fields.
Here, we see a nation at wheat harvest after enduring 7 months of tumors, rats, and death. They were not celebrating; it was not a happy time.
On the other side, we see a nation, Israel, harvesting their wheat as the symbol of God returns home. It was a great time for celebration!
Samuel and his sons…
The Israelites seem to generally seek the Lord during Samuel’s reign. The Bible informs us that Samuel’s sons were of similar mindset to Eli’s though; they were dishonest and deceitful. What is surprising to see is that Samuel expects to leave the nation in their hands. Granted, it was likely more of a customary process for the priests to pass down ‘power’ to their sons to take over.
However, after being on the receiving end of God’s proclamation against Eli and his family, it is a wonder that Samuel is in much the same position. To the Israelites’ credit, they recognized that Samuel’s sons were not, shall we say, ‘leadership material’.
Israel demands a king…
It would not be enough for the Israelites to have a judge anymore. They took hold of this opportunity to stop bad leaders and request to be like every other nation. They had the God of the universe as their king, He had just displayed through the presence of the ark that He was in control. But they wanted something different. His gift of His presence and leadership was put aside as they looked elsewhere.
Dire warnings are given to Israel with what will happen if a kingship is appointed but they are a stubborn people.
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be 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.” -1 Samuel 8:19-20
Israel demands a king. In light of God’s display of power through an object, the ark, the Israelites hold firm in their demand. How sad. Consider what a slap in the face that was to God.
Saul is chosen…
God shows us a pecking order of sorts … when He initially selects a king for Israel. He has each tribe present itself, then clans, then families, then men. This points to the leadership structure as well as responsibility.
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God agrees and directs Samuel to Saul. Saul comes from the smallest tribe, Benjamin, and his family is not well known or overly affluent. But Saul LOOKS like a king. He is the literal image the Israelites would likely have pictured a king to look like. A whole head taller, he had the stature of a leader.
Similar to the period of the judges, the period of kings was brought in by the same means. The judge of the people was typically determined after that person had led the Israelites victoriously in battle. We see the same setup for Saul to usher him in as the king… to which all the people collectively put their allegiance.
Samuel shares the duties of the king, which likely were from the instructions in Deuteronomy forewarning the Israelites’ demand for a king.
“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Our king and gift…
Israel demands a king, and they get one. God was a king and a gift to the Israelites but He was rejected. God has given us a similar gift today to know Him better: the Bible. It will lead us to Him being the ultimate king of our lives. Yet, do we treasure it? Are we delving in to seek Him and know Him better? Do we obey His Word? Do we treat Him as our king, our ultimate leader? Is He truly the Lord of our lives?
If not, are we any different than the Israelites when they sinned and demanded the Lord anoint an earthly king? Who is our king while we are on this earth?
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There’s such a gentle warning to us in Israel’s behavior. We are sure we know what is best ( and we sure know what we want!) How crucial it is to trust God’s sovereign plan!