You should remember that God always knew Israel would want, and get, a king. He had anticipated it with His commands in Deuteronomy 17. There, prospective kings are to be Israelites. They are not to give themselves to the ways of kings of other nations. They are not to be materialistic. They are to submit to the law of God and not imagine themselves superior to their fellow Israelites.
Also as you read this, remember that it is to Israel’s credit that they do not ask for a king of their own making. In asking Samuel to appoint a king, they are asking God for a king.
As you read the reasons Samuel gives for not having a king, you might wonder why God was against it. After all, a king will bring organization to an Israel that heretofore had been a very loose confederation of tribes – and not very united at that. A monarchy will also produce a whole new industry: heralds, estate keepers, cooks and bakers to the king. More jobs produce a greater economy. What could be wrong with that?
Simply this: the monarchy, for all its benefits, would birth a class system among the people of God they had not known. Up to now, people might have had different jobs, but all jobs were equally important to the community. With the arrival of a king, however, all that would change.
Invariably, a worldly value system divides the people of God. You will see it in the New Testament church many times – most notably in the Corinthian letters. Paul will write to people who have separated themselves by class and say: “Who makes you different from anyone else?” Their worldly notion of pecking order will lead them to regard the apostle Paul as the garbage of the world.
In the family of God, there is no social pecking order. We are all children of God and His servants. We should regard one another with equality.