Does it surprise us that the Israelites demanded a king so they could be like "all the nations?" They have been serving the nations' idols since they left Egypt, so it's not surprising that they would also want to be like the other nations in terms of their government. Sadly, the Israelites missed that God was already their King. Their demand for a king is not a rejection of Samuel as prophet and judge but of God as the Sovereign King. They have forsaken God and served idols "from the day [he] brought them out of Egypt even to this day." Again, the Old Testament shows us a few faithful people, but the bulk of the OT is the rebellion against God by the Israelites. (The prophets don't show up to tell everyone what a great job they're doing) We see that Samuel warns the people of how the king they want will take their crops, animals, sons and daughters, and their income. Moses had instructed them four centuries earlier about how the king they'd eventually appoint should write out a copy of the Law and study it daily. There will not be a single king who does that...