For a king the people clamored

For a king the people clamored

To the prophet Samuel.

"Other nations have such rulers,

And we want a king as well."

So the prophet, grieving sorely,

Asked of God what he should do.

God replied, "Give them an answer,

Tell them all that I tell you."

 

"Now the king who will reign o'er you 

Will declare his right to claim

All your sons and all your daughters

To serve only in his name

As his soldiers, cooks and servants,

Serving at his will alone;

So much of your grain and cattle,

What your worked for will be gone."

 

Still the people would not hear him;

For a king was all their cry.

God told Samuel so to give them

What they wanted in reply.

Saul was tall in human stature,

But he was not strong of heart;

David did win many battles,

But his family fell apart.

 

Solomon did tax them sorely,

All for his own selfish gain; 

At the last the kingdom sundered;

Conquered, exiled, doomed to pain.

No king is for God's own children 

Who must follow God alone!

No kings can claim our allegiance,

No king but our God alone!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2025, after 1 Samuel 8.

MUSIC: Tune EBENEZER, Thomas John Williams, 1890.

Let the reader understand.