“When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen . . .” (1 Samuel 8:1

With these words Samuel warned Israel of the dire consequence of choosing a king to rule over them, rather than remain under the sovereignty of the Lord who had rescued them from Egypt. How remarkable that God does not prevent men and women from choosing a form of governance which sets Him at a significant remove from their affairs. Well does God know that by insisting on our independence from him, we are forging our own fetters. God is a far better ruler that we could ever be—even to ourselves.