Samuel is the last judge of Israel. The first six chapters tell of his birth, which is another story of a woman who can鈥檛 have children and ends up giving birth to one of Israel鈥檚 deliverers. We are also told of the oppression by the Philistines. Samuel convinces the people to turn to God, and God delivers them once again. Despite that success, the people decide that having a king like the nations around them is the best way to succeed.
The story tells of how God gives the people what they want even though he knows it is not the best. Does that happen to us sometimes? Do we stubbornly insist on getting something that is not as good as depending on God? Are we listening when God suggests something counter-cultural?