As the books of first and second Samuel open Israel is in a tough spot.

Harassed by her enemies, the nation needed to make a change.

Welcome to Moody Bible Institute daily devotional known as today in the word.

Sharing today's reading, I'm Donna Leland.

God raised up one last judge, Samuel, to lead them to victory and to guide them back to righteousness.

But righteousness is hard work.

What if there could be a way to guarantee victory while avoiding righteousness?

Israel looked at how the other nations did things and said, give us a king to lead us.

On the surface, their requests seemed innocent enough.

God had permitted Israel to have a king in the law.

The problem was why they wanted a king.

Today, in the word, we hear the cry in first Samuel 820, then we will be like all the other nations with a king to lead us.

The problem God had already promised to defend, lead them and fight for them if they obeyed him.

He also promised to fight against them if they disobeyed.

What Israel wanted was security without righteousness.

They wanted the blessing of obedience without the commitment that obedience requires.

In this way, they rejected God from being king over them.

They turned him into their employee rather than submit to him as their ruler.

So God gave them the kind of king they asked for Saul, and he proved to be a failure.

Later, God would give them the kind of king they should have asked for David.

He proved to be a leader who, although not perfect, led Israel in righteousness.

We hope these devotionals of today in the word are just reminding you that God's way is always the best, because he always has the best in mind for us.