Not Monarchy

Kings are not God's ideal form of government.

When the people asked Samuel for a King, God said that they were rejecting him.

So all the elders of came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.... Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do" (1 Sam 8:4-9).

God then warned them that a king would enslave their sons and daughters and steal their wealth. Kings are a sub-optimal form of government.

The Jews look back to King David as their model ruler, but he was not the ideal. David had a heart for God and a contrite spirit, but he still sinned when he became corrupted by power. His disobedience brought a calamity on his nation that killed 70,000 people (2 Sam 24:13-17). A king who loves God is not the perfect answer.

The history of Israel demonstrates that good kings are usually succeeded by bad kings. Because their sons grow up in a privileged world, they generally do not have the character that such a powerful position needs. The trouble is that once power has been given to a king, the people can never get it back, even if his sons turn bad.

Saul was chosen by the people (1 Sam 10:17-25). David was also chosen as king by the people (2 Sam 5:1-5). However, once the people had given them absolute authority, they could not get it back from their successors, even if they wanted to. The people of Israel tried to take back their freedom when Rehoboam became king, but they failed. Their rebellion brought out an even worse dictator called Jeroboam (1 Kings 14).

A King in heaven is great. A king on earth is dangerous.

Monarchy is not God's ideal.