The Flaw in Human Government: 1 Samuel 10:23-27
Human beings – human governments – can never provide the same degree of love for its people than God is able to provide. This is one of the most reprehensible flaws of typical socialism. Under socialism, the state embraces the responsibility to care for its people. Unfortunately, the state is far less capable for compassion than the people – and their faith within.
One of the smartest things Samuel does in making public Saul’s anointing is explaining the rights and responsibilities of the king. God already told Samuel what would happen. Samuel related the information to the people. A king will create a central authority responsible for ensuring the protection of the borders. That’s a good thing. In exchange, the king will also take taxes, the first fruit of the field, and demand access to their sons every time the country marched out to war.
There was a cost to pay, and Samuel wanted the people to hear about the cost up front. Having a king would affect them. Not trying to play spoiler, but the kingdom of the Hebrew people only stays intact for three generations before the lordship divides them. The people will have Saul, then David, and finally Solomon. After Solomon, a significant political divide among the people causes the nation to split. This happens three kings into the process.
Samuel knows this is not a good idea. Samuel also knows this is what the people want. Therefore, Samuel explains it upfront so no accusation of hidden agendas exist.
Even more troubling, Samuel bookended Saul’s announcement with an earlier declaration. Samuel already reminded the people God brought them out of Egypt, God saved them in the wilderness, and God sustained them until now. By asking for a king, the people turn their backs on the provenance of God. By asking for a king, they declare their inability to trust in something they can feel but not see. In asking for a king, they declare their choice to place their faith in a flawed human king, who will achieve person gain from their sacrifices, instead of an invisible God who has proven Himself and who encourages the benefit of the community when sacrifices are given.
Unfortunately for human civilization, it is easy to look back and see how bad certain choices were. It is even easier to spin explanations of those choices to make them sound worse. It is easy at this moment to look back upon the Hebrew people and see the flaw in their desire for a king. History repeats itself for those who do not know it well enough. It is always bad to intentionally choose a flawed human leader, who will naturally succumb to personal greed, over a perfect God who already has everything and therefore is free to have our best interests in mind. Human beings – human governments – can never provide the same degree of love for its people than God is able to provide.
