Confronting Monarchy

Early in the Book of Samuel, the Israelites demand a king. The prophet Samuel is against it, but God reluctantly tells him to accept the people's demand. He does and finds—to his surprise—that even though he is anti-monarchy, he has a positive view of the new monarch, Saul. Samuel believes that Saul's insecurity will make him obedient to God. But after Saul defies God's command, Samuel realizes his error in judgment and once again sours on the idea of monarchy.