In the Bible, God was leading the Israelites through the Prophets, but it got to a point the people started asking for a king. The Israelites wanted to be like their neighbouring nations/other nations who had earthly kings. They needed a leader/warrior, king who would lead them to war against their enemies, the Philistines. The Israelites demanded Samuel to appoint a king for them so that Israel will be like other nations. Samuel was displeased, but God granted him permission to elect a king. God warned that by asking for a king, the people have not rejected Samuel; but rather they have rejected Him (God). Prophet Samuel told the people of Israel what awaits them if they have their wish granted that a kind should rule over them: 1 Samuel 8:4-22
And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
We don’t want more suffering. We need a leader that God chooses and ordains. We need God’s choice.
And he said, this will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
The prophet warned the Israelites to be careful of what they wished. If they truly wanted a king to rule over them, then they are also wishing for whatever comes with the rulership by a monarch: conscription of their sons, confiscation of their crops and vineyards, the requisitioning of the labour of their daughters, and a level of taxation which will rise to the appalling level of ten per cent of what they own.
My prayer for Nigeria is that the will of God will prevail over the will of the people. Peace to Nigeria.
Eventually, Saul was anointed a king over Israel. Not long after and true to expectations, he began to mislead the people. He began to disobey the word of God. The consequence was that God rejected Saul asking. But the people shared in his ‘sins and punishments’. God gave them up to their enemies to be defeated at battles they would have ordinarily won. What is the lesson for us here? You choose your choice as president; you suffer rejection, and you continue the suffering. You allow God to choose for you, you enjoy the peace and harmony.
When God chose Solomon he enjoyed peace during his reign. The Bible says in Proverb 29:2 ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.’ We don’t want more groaning in the land. We don’t want more suffering. We need a leader that God chooses and ordains. We need God’s choice. My prayer for Nigeria is that the will of God will prevail over the will of the people. Peace to Nigeria.
*Gabriel Olukayode Ogunbiyi writes from London, UK
