They Desired A King - Chris Tibbetts

The Philistines had been mighty in battle. Surely the hand of the god, Dagon, had delivered them from the Israelites. Even the ark of the Israelite God, which the elders had brandished like a good luck charm, had been captured, and 30,000 Israelite soldiers had perished. The ark would go to the temple of Dagon in Ashdod. The priests of Dagon would oversee it — and so they placed the ark before the god of the Philistines. A proper judgment in their eyes.

However, when the priests entered the temple the next morning, the idol of Dagon was lying on its face before the ark. The priests repositioned the statue, posturing the ark of the covenant once more before it, but again, when the priests returned the next day, Dagon had fallen prostrate once more, and this time, with its head and hands cutoff. Then the tumors came upon the Philistines. The lords of the Philistine cities gathered and determined that the ark must go from Ashdod to Gath, but the tumors followed with it. And so they sent the ark from Gath to Ekron, but the tumors came to the people of Ekron, as well. The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. Thus, the Philistines offered a guilt offering and sent the ark back to Israel. For the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Philistines.

Much of our popular readings of 1 Samuel focus on the primary narrative excerpts. The beautiful story of Hannah and Elkanah receiving the Lord’s blessing of a child. The stand alone novella of David and Goliath, which has been extrapolated to both secular and sacred application alike. The nation of Israel desiring — and receiving — the king, Saul. At times, we look for inspiration in wholly individualistic contortions of the David and Goliath story, divorcing ourselves from the central display of the glory of God in the defeat of “that Philistine.” While other times, we shake our heads condescendingly at the obvious foolishness of the nation Israel calling Saul as their king. How could a people place their hopes, their security, their identity in a man? We know the characters, we know the stories, we know the applications — even the ones that drift astray — but, do we know the people who desired a king?

Throughout her history the people of God have sought to be like the world. We have sought to run from our Lord. We have sought to remain in or return to our sin and separation from Him. From Adam and Eve hiding their sin in the Garden to the wayward churches of Revelation, we hone expertise in the practice of running from our God. Do we know the people who desired a king?

The author of 1 Samuel makes consistent use of foils, contrasts, and parallels in the narrative. Thus, if we read the story with these conventions in mind, we see that God may not be condemning outright the notion of man’s kingship when the people asked for a king. Indeed, what appears to be clear from the narrative is that God is warning his people about the frailty, the distortion, and the fallenness of any human leadership. The book of 1 Samuel begins with the priest Eli echoing the prayers of Hannah, which would bring blessing upon the nation through the birth of her child. But Eli’s priesthood is set in contrast to the wretchedness of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who debauch the priesthood and the sanctuary. Eli honors his sons and is rebuked. Later, we see Samuel raised up as the final judge of Israel, a just and righteous man before the Lord. And yet, he too, appoints his sons, Joel and Abijah, as judges in Beersheba, where they turn aside after bribes and perverted justice. Later still, Samuel himself would look for a king through the eyes of man. Thus, when we reach the central narrative of Saul and David, we see the capstone story on the prevailing message of God’s kingship over his people, that is displayed in the entirety of the book. The story is not showing us primarily that the people were foolish to desire a king, although that is evident. It is showing

 us that the leadership of man — whether priest, or judge, or king — is vulnerable, for man does not see as the Lord sees.

We do well to be encouraged by this as we conclude another election cycle. Not because our country does not stand responsible for its choices. To be sure, we have been, we are, and we will continue to be for as long as we continue to be. And not because elections do not bear significant consequences. They do, which is a point that seems even more palpable in this election. Christians must proclaim truth and virtue from Scripture, and it must inform how we vote and engage civically. We should be encouraged by this, however, because we should be reminded of the faithfulness and omnipotence of our God. Political leadership is vital to the prosperity of this or any nation, but no matter the political leadership, it will always be vulnerable. Reform will only come as we increasingly look to and worship our king. Do we desire Him?

The elders were confident in the ark before they carried it into battle against the Philistines, but they had failed to approach God’s presence in faith, in humility, seeking his direction and will. How do we approach his throne of grace today? How do we petition our Lord in times of great anxiety, worry, and concern? Do we render perfunctory our invitation to go before the sovereign, omnipotent Creator and Sustainer of all things? Do we primarily desire a king before our eyes, or do we rest in the one who already sits upon the eternal throne?

The brutal irony of 1 Samuel is revealed in the overarching foil of the story. Israel desired a king. But the entirety of the narrative urges them to behold the glory of the one whom they already have. The one who has desired them. The one who has brought them up out of the land of Egypt, who has delivered them into the Land of Promise, and who would send the Messiah.

Do we desire our king? Do we desire the king? No matter the outcome of this, or any, election. Even when the temporal stakes may be life and death. Christians, desire your King, for he has delivered you with his mighty hand and he desires you both today and forevermore.