Gods Goal VIII

Gods Goal VIII

The Beginnings of MonarchyAfter a period of judges (recorded in the book by that name) Israel asked for a king. Even though the motive for asking for a king was evil (Israel wanted to be like other nations), nevertheless God did not destroy his people. His motive in this gracious act of mercy is given in 1 Samuel 12:19-23.
And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." And Samuel said to the people, "Fear not; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; and do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, for they arc vain. For the Lord will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and right way. Here the presentation of the people, despite their sin at the beginning of the monarchy, is due to God's purpose to preserve and display the honor of his name. This goal is supreme.Another way God showed mercy during the monarchy was to bring to the kingship a man after his own heart, a king whose goal was the same as God's. We can see this in how David prayed. In Psalm 25: 11 he says, "For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great." And in the most famous psalm of all, David says God's motive in leading his people is the glory of his name: "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."