"The LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself" (Deut. 14:2).
"Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations" ({vi 7389-7390}1 Sam. 8:19,20).
How sad! The Lord chose them to be His special treasure, but they rejected Him. Israel did not want to be different. God gave them what they wanted. Instead of the peace they had enjoyed, they found battles they had to fight and die in. May we learn from their example, and desire only God's will for us because we delight in Him.