Israel wanted a king because they wanted to be like the nations around them, and later, at Christ's first coming, they wanted a ruling King without a redeeming Savior.
In Samuel's day, Israel told him they no longer wanted to be different from the Gentile nations and demanded a king. Les Feldick points out that Samuel warned them about taxation, forced conscription, and oppression, but the people insisted on conformity. Les applies the same pattern to Christ's first coming: Israel wanted the King and the Kingdom but rejected the suffering Savior because they would not face their sin problem.
1 Samuel 8:5 — The scriptural setting for Israel's request; they asked Samuel for a king so they could be like the nations, as reflected in Les's teaching label 'Why Israel Rejected God as King - 1 Samuel 8 Explained.'
Ezekiel 37:22 — God's future promise of one king over a reunited Israel, showing that the King and Kingdom Israel wanted will one day be fulfilled in Christ.
The Bible's own record of Israel's request is found in 1 Samuel 8. There the people ask Samuel to appoint a king to judge them, even though they already had a God-centered government under the judges. Their stated reason was to be like all the other nations - a direct contrast to God's plan for Israel to be a separated, holy nation. God's later promise through Ezekiel shows what He intended instead: 'I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all' (Ezekiel 37:22). He also promised to cleanse them from their idols and make them His people (Ezekiel 37:23).
Les teaches that Israel's request in Samuel's day was rooted in a desire for conformity: 'We want to be like the nations around us. We don't want to be different anymore, we want to be like the rest of the Gentile nation.' He shows that Samuel warned them about the cost of a king - taxes, drafted children, and the king's thumb on them - but the people still insisted. Les connects this to Israel's call to be a separated, holy nation, and he sees the same rebellious pattern today: Israel and the world crave a utopian kingdom but avoid dealing with sin. He also explains that when Jesus came, Israel wanted the King and the Kingdom but not a redeeming Savior. Because they would not accept a Messiah who came humbly on a donkey and dealt first with sin, they rejected Him. Yet Les points from Ezekiel 37 to a future day when Israel will be cleansed and Christ will rule as their King.
Les Feldick recounts Samuel's warning in plain terms: 'If you get a king you're going to be taxed to death, if you get a king he's going to draft your kids, if you get a king he's going to put his thumb on you.' The people's response was not to reconsider; they simply repeated their desire to be like the rest of the world.
Les describes Israel's judges-era government as a 'God-centered government' in which each judge was only a ruler under God. Israel's demand for a king like the nations meant giving up that unique arrangement. Their request was not against Samuel only - it was a repudiation of God as their King. Les also reminds listeners that Israel had been promised that if they obeyed, they would be 'a kingdom, a nation of priests' and a 'holy, or separated, nation.' Wanting to be 'like the nations' was the exact opposite of that calling.
Les shows that Israel's desire for a king persisted. At Christ's first coming, they wanted 'the King and the Kingdom' - a glorious kingdom with Israel on top - but they rejected the idea of a redeeming Savior because that would mean dealing with their sin. They expected a conquering hero on a white steed, not a Messiah arriving on a donkey. So the King was crucified, raised from the dead, and is now at the Father's right hand until His enemies are made His footstool. Les's message is that Israel's real need was never just a ruling king; it was a Savior first.
Judges Era Background
Les shows how Israel repeatedly fell into idolatry after judges died, setting the stage for their dissatisfaction with God-centered government and their desire to be like pagan nations.
Israel Wanted to Be Like the Nations
Les states plainly that at the end of Samuel's judgeship Israel said they no longer wanted to be different; they wanted a king like the Gentile nations, despite Samuel's warning about taxes, conscription, and oppression.
Wanted a King, Not a Savior
Les points out that Israel in unbelief wanted the King and Kingdom but refused the redeeming Savior because they would have to deal with sin first.
King and Kingdom Belong Together
Les explains that a kingdom requires a king and a king requires a kingdom; God's covenant promised the Messiah would come to be Israel's King.
Israel Was to Be a Separated Nation
Les reminds us that Israel was promised to become a kingdom of priests and a holy, separated nation - the opposite of being like all the nations.
Israel Rejected the King
Les explains that the King and His kingdom were about to appear but Israel rejected Him; after the crucifixion and resurrection, He is waiting until His enemies become His footstool.
World Still Wants the Kingdom Without the Savior
Les contrasts Israel's desire for a glorious King and Kingdom with their refusal of the Savior, and he compares that to the modern world's willingness to accept a utopian kingdom but not the sin problem.
Future One-King Promise
Les quotes Ezekiel's promise of one nation and one King, showing that Israel's true kingly hope will be fulfilled when Christ rules over a cleansed Israel.
Ezekiel 37:22: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
God's promise of one king over a reunited Israel, the King and Kingdom Les says Israel ultimately wanted.
Ezekiel 37:23: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
The promise that the future King will cleanse Israel from idolatry - the very thing that caused their cycle of judgment under the judges.
According to Les Feldick, Israel told Samuel that they wanted to be like the nations around them and no longer wanted to be different. They insisted on a king even after Samuel warned about taxation, forced conscription, and oppression.
No. Les teaches that Israel wanted the King and the Kingdom, but they did not want a redeeming Savior because that would require dealing with their sin problem. They were looking for a conquering hero, and Jesus' humble donkey arrival did not fit their expectations.
Les says Israel today is no different from Israel in Samuel's day. The government of Israel is still frantically seeking to be accepted by the Gentile world rather than trusting in God's unique calling.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected God as King — 1 Samuel 8 Explained