4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah ; 5 and they said to him, "Behold , you have grown old , and your sons do not walk in your ways . Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations ." 6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said , "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord . 7 The Lord said to Samuel , "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8 "Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day -in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods -so they are doing to you also . 9 "Now then, listen to their voice ; however , you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4-9
Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4-9
(Read 1 Samuel 8:4-9)
Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them that they shall have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but as sometimes he opposes us from loving-kindness, so at other times he gratifies us in wrath; he did so here. God knows how to bring glory to himself, and serves his own wise purposes, even by men's foolish counsels.