Trust in God, Not Man
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have 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 8:18-20)
Peer pressure isn’t just a teenage issue; adults experience it as well. The urge to fit in, to have the same opportunities as others, and to be part of the same groups continues even after someone turns 18. This is what transpired for the people of Israel in 1 Samuel 8. Before this moment, Israel was a theocracy, meaning God governed it. God conveyed instructions through the priests and prophets, which the people were required to follow.
However, in this passage, we see the Israelites rejecting God’s leadership by insisting on an earthly king. Why? Because they desired to emulate the nations surrounding them instead of relying on God’s direct governance. This critical moment in their history exposed their misplaced priorities and lack of faith in God’s provision and protection. They specifically sought a king to judge them, lead them into battle, and fight for them, effectively replacing divine intervention with human protection. They overlooked that God had fought their battles and granted them victory in the past, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the falling of Jericho’s walls.
As God's prophet, Samuel warned the people about the consequences of choosing a king. They would face oppression, taxes, and become enslaved as a result. By relying on human strength, they cut themselves off from God's help. The most dramatic part of this passage is God's proclamation that He would not hear them because they rejected Him. What a terrifying thought! When the people cried out under the burden of their king's rule, God responded with silence because they had deliberately spurned His kingship.
Practical Application
Like the Israelites, we are often tempted to conform to the world around us or to trust in human systems, leaders, or abilities. We must seek to live as God’s set-apart people, even when it’s countercultural, and trust in God as our ultimate provider.
