Problem: God says, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also” (1 Sam. 8:7-8). Why would God say that desiring a king was sinful, if he included instructions for the king in Deuteronomy 17:14-20?
Solution: The people wanted a human king for the wrong reasons. They wanted to be like the other nations; see verse 5 (“Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations”). They wanted to trust in a visible and finite leader, rather than the invisible and infinite God. This is why Samuel reminds them that God was the one who rescued them from Egypt—not a human person (v.19). Moreover, they didn’t ask God for a king; they asked Samuel for a king (v.5). Deuteronomy 17:15 explains that God would be the one to appoint a king; however, the people wanted to choose their own king. While God also chose Saul (1 Sam 9:16; 10:1, 24; 12:13), the people were choosing him for the wrong reasons (e.g. stature, good looks, etc.).
“And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. (1 Sam 8:7-8)
