With their demand for a king (1 Samuel 8:1–22), the people of Israel showed themselves to be unwilling to demonstrate the radical countercultural faith that the Lord demanded from them.1 In response, the Lord gives his people a king like the nations. Saul looks good on the outside and the Lord is in complete control of choosing and appointing him as king for Israel.2 He is not a bad king from the start and will have the potential to do a lot of good. He will be used by the Lord to deliver his people from their enemies, thereby meeting their desire for security.3 All in all, there is a lot of grace in God’s response to Israel’s rejection.4
1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth.