What was Israel's problem when Samuel was the last judge?
When Samuel was Israel's last judge, Israel's problem was that they wanted to be like the surrounding nations. They told Samuel they wanted a king so they could be like the Gentiles. They did not want to be different anymore; they wanted to be like the rest of the world.
Les explains that at the time of Samuel, Israel's last judge, the people demanded a king because they wanted to be like the nations around them. They said they did not want to be different anymore and wanted to be like the rest of the Gentile nation. Samuel warned that a king would tax them, draft their children, and put his thumb on them, but they insisted on being like the rest of the world. Les points out that Israel today is no different, as its government frantically seeks to be accepted by the Gentile world.