This morning I read of Israel's plea to have their first human king even though for generations their ruler had actually been God alone. While God was ruling they would at most have human judges to settle conflicts that arose. Basically, their plea for a human king was a multi-generational plea to be just like ever one else as their own words indicate: "... we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king govern us and fight our battles" (1 Samuel 8:19b-20).
God once again listens to his people and, even though he notes to Samuel that they are just tired of God, he instructs Samuel to look for the human king God has chosen (8:7). Samuel is led to a man named Saul who becomes Israel's first human king.
The point here for me is God allows us to make choices even when tragedy results from them. The words of tragedy said of many kings of Israel in Scripture are simple: "he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD".
One other point: If you get a chance, read 1 Samuel 9 and 10 for the 'coronation' of Saul does have some parallels with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11).
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