When the People Asked for a King (1 Samuel 8:1-5)
Have you ever wanted something just because everyone else had it? Maybe you felt like you were missing out or falling behind. That’s exactly what happened in 1 Samuel 8:1–5. It’s a short passage, but it teaches us something big about leadership, trust, and how easy it is to follow the crowd instead of following God.
Samuel Gets Older
At this point in the Bible, Samuel is an older man. He had faithfully led the people of Israel for many years as a prophet and judge. He was respected, wise, and deeply committed to God.
As he aged, Samuel appointed his sons to help lead Israel. On the surface, that might seem like a good idea—but there was a problem.
A Problem in Leadership
Samuel’s sons didn’t follow his example. The Bible says they were dishonest, took bribes, and twisted justice (1 Samuel 8:3). In short, they weren’t godly leaders like their father. The people could see this, and it worried them.
When leaders act selfishly or unfairly, it causes people to lose trust—not just in that person, but sometimes even in the system or values they represent.
The People Make a Request
So the elders of Israel, the respected community leaders, came to Samuel with a bold request:
“You are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. Give us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.” (1 Samuel 8:5, paraphrased)
This was a turning point. Instead of trusting God to raise up new leaders—or asking Him for help—they decided they wanted to be like everyone else. They thought a human king would fix their problems.
Why This Matters
At first glance, this might seem like a practical decision. The current leaders weren’t working out, so why not try something new?
But their request wasn’t just about leadership. It revealed a deeper problem: the people were shifting their trust away from God. They didn’t want to wait for His plan. They wanted a human king—something they could see, something that felt more “normal” compared to other nations.
Wanting to be like others is a powerful temptation. But what seems like a good idea can sometimes lead us away from what’s best—especially when we stop listening to God.
What Can We Learn?
This story teaches a few important lessons:
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God should be our first choice, not our last resort. When things feel uncertain or unfair, it’s easy to look for quick fixes. But God wants us to turn to Him first, not just copy what everyone else is doing.
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Leaders matter—but they’re human. Even good leaders like Samuel aren’t perfect, and their replacements may fall short. That’s why our faith should be in God, not just in people.
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It’s okay to ask for help—but be careful what you’re asking for. The elders wanted security and order, but they didn’t ask for God’s guidance. They asked for something that looked good from the outside but came with consequences.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to look at the Israelites and think, “Why didn’t they just trust God?” But if we’re honest, we all do the same thing sometimes. We want what others have. We try to solve problems our own way. We forget to ask God what He wants.
So today, let’s pause and think:
Are we chasing what looks good—or what is good in God’s eyes?
Are we following the crowd—or following God?
Let’s be people who pray first, trust God more, and believe that His way is always best—even when it’s different.
1 Samuel 8:1-5 (WEB)
8:1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah. 5 They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”