Echoes of an Ancient Political Crisis (1 Samuel 8:1-9) 

In Part 1 of our new series, Biblical Perspectives on Civic Engagement, we explore how a crisis in the political life of ancient Israel illuminates our own struggles as a nation. To be sure, pre-monarchy Israel faced serious problems, including foreign oppression and moral anarchy. But in asking for a king, Israel's leaders misidentified the problems they faced, proposed the wrong solution to those problems, and sacrificed what was most precious to them. We will do the same if we allow fear to dictate how we engage in public life. But we have another option available to us. We can entrust ourselves to the sovereignty of God. We can love our neighbors, show them how to engage in politics in a godly way, and work for the common good.