Samuel’s speech contrasts the Lord’s goodness with the people’s lack of response. The Lord had repeatedly shown himself to be Israel’s great Guardian and Defender, ever since the time of their deliverance out of Egypt.1 Their rejection of the Lord with a request for a king was completely out of step with what they had seen of the Lord in history.2 It implied that the Lord was not sufficient to care for them and save them from their foes.3 Samuel’s words echo those of the unnamed prophet who spoke in Judges 6:8–9a.4
18 And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’