I Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
God’s people chose to have a king instead of following God’s man. Samuel had been the priest, the go-between for God, and the people. God had directed them by telling Samuel what to say to them.
It was not God’s will for them to have a king. God had raised the nation as a theocracy. God was their leader. The people of Israel didn’t like being different. They wanted to be like the other nations with a king.
Samuel was hurt that they would reject him and choose to follow the world’s example. God tells Samuel that they are rejecting God and God’s will for their life.
I wonder how many times I want to be like those that do not know God. I want to fit in with those that do not even know God. Serving God makes us different. We long to be normal, but that is impossible if you are a born again Christian.