Readers Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, October 26, 2012 Read – 1 Samuel 7 & 8 The eighth chapter of 1 Samuel leads us to the heart of the issue – Israel desires a king like the other nations. The reason for their desire is that it seems Judges, who arise from time to time in times of need, are not sufficient to guarantee the safety of the nation and the people. So, they want a king. It is crucially important that we hear in this story that having a king was not God’s design. In fact the desire for a king is an insult to God who alone is King. Much of the remainder of the Old Testament story will revolve around the king. David will be remembered as the greatest king and at least by some as the greatest Old Testament character. What are we to make of this inauspicious beginning? Would things have worked out better if there never was a king? Of course we can’t answer the last question because there were kings. But it is important for us to hear that the Old Testament has mixed feelings about kings. Remembering that will help us to avoid being wrapped up in the plight of the kings. As we have noticed before the Old Testament bears witness to characters who were less than heroes. In fact there are no heroes – only faulty human being that God must work with. Remembering that both helps us to keep a proper perspective and removes from us the excuse that we are not like biblical character – the truth is that we are all alike. That’s a comfort and a challenge.