Give Us A King, Part II
With advancing years, the prophet Samuel was forced to share with others the cares of the government. Samuel had thus appointed his sons to the office; and this was done with the full assent of the nation. This appointment was not outside the boundaries of God’s directives.
“The Lord had, through Moses, given special directions to His people that the rulers of Israel should judge righteously, deal justly with the widow and the fatherless, and receive no bribes.” Patriarchs and Prophets- 604.
Jethro advised his son in-law, Moses to have judges to handle the huge load of smaller disputes among the people. Moses was to continue to lead the people while handling bigger matters.
Yet, Samuel’s sons did not walk in the way of their father Samuel. Conversely, they were full of greed, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.
We are pressed to acknowledge that there was corruption within the ranks of the theocratic government of Israel.
It reached a point where finally the elders approached the prophet Samuel
and told him, “You’re old, and your sons are not like you.” They’re corrupt.
The corruption within caused much dissatisfaction, and now served as a pretext for the people of Israel’s strong and long held secret desire for a change in how the government of Israel is to run.
They exclaimed, “Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
Biden, you’re too old, and your son Hunter Biden is corrupt. The government is corrupt and full of waste, fraud, and abuse.
It was not enough that Hunter Biden was charged with felony tax evasions and pled guilty to all. It was not enough that the same Department of Justice went after corruption even within the ranks of the Democratic party. It was not enough that there were demonstrable and clear indicators of an improving economy, international relations, and equitable remedies in several spheres during Biden’s time in office.
In the eyes of many, Biden was perceived as weak. In contrast, Trump was seen as strong.
And for all of Biden’s flaws, which no one is immune to, and his cognitive decline, it simply served, as in the days of ancient Israel, as a pretext of what the people really wanted—a “strong man,’ an anti-establishment persona, a king.
This is not just a throw away line. In fact, on February 19, 2025, after Trump issued out an order to halt congestion pricing in New York city, he posted on his social platform, Truth Social, the following: “Congestion pricing is dead. Manhattan, and all of New York, is saved. Long live the King.”
Trump’s monarchial rhetoric goes to character. It’s all in line with his previous statements and actions.
God did warn His people through the prophet Samuel of all the things a king would demand and what the people would be subjected to, i.e., military conscription, servitude, slavery, and that there would be grievous exactions upon their person and property-- all for the king. And “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.” 1 Samuel 8:18.
Yet, even after it was made known to them the sure consequences of their choice, the people refused to listen. They responded, “Give us a king to lead us, to go out before us, to fight our battles.”
Even during Trump’s first term, warnings were shown as to his dictatorial and cruel impulses. Trump was the first president to be impeached twice; once for soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and subsequently for inciting a riot against the Capitol to “stop the steal” putting out his relentless falsehood that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen from him.
In the years prior to the 2024 U.S. presidential election and with increased fervor, there was a litany of articles, podcasts, and speeches from pundits and politicians alike-- giving Americans ample warnings of what was in store should Trump be elected for a second term.
Since 2016, Trump’s resume of autocratic and cruel policies had grown. He routinely defied court orders. He had been convicted of 34 felony counts. He had separated children from their families and had placed some in cages. Trump’s first term was ominous and a harbinger of things to come. Nonetheless, there was an election ahead of the American people. They were shown clearly and warned that what Trump did in his first term would be far worse, if he should get in office again.
A plurality of the American electorate refused to listen. The pundits and other politicians were just being haters and suffering with “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” as they called it. They downplayed his autocratic impulses, and that negative consequences and punishments would only happen to the illegals and criminals in our society—not to us. The catchphrases for nearly eight years among his supporters was that Trump “will fight for us… He will fight our enemies. Trump will keep us safe.”
