לקוטי שיחות חלק כ״ד - שופטים א

Regarding the mitzvah in our parsha to appoint a king, we must understand why Shmuel was displeased when the Jewish people requested a king, and why Hashem said, “It is Me that they have rejected.” After all, appointing a king is itself a mitzvah.

And if their request was something undesirable, why did Hashem nevertheless fulfill their request and command that a king be appointed?

The explanation is as follows:

Chassidus explains that there are two levels in the function of a king.

The first is to prevent a situation in which “one person would swallow another alive”—to establish order, discipline, and basic fear of authority.

The second applies even when the people already possess fear of Hashem on their own. In that case, the king elevates and connects them to a higher spiritual level—the level of yirah ila’ah, a higher awe of Hashem.

Shmuel wanted the Jewish people to request a king for the sake of this second, higher purpose.

Instead, the Jewish people asked for a king “like all the nations.” Their request was for the first type of kingship: a king who would provide basic order and authority.

Nevertheless, Hashem commanded that Shaul be appointed king.

The reason is that when the Jewish people are on such a level, they in fact need a king in order to instill within them yirah tata’ah, a basic fear and awe, together with kabbalas ol, acceptance of authority.

The practical lesson is found in the Mishnah’s instruction, “Make for yourself a Rav.”

A person might think that this instruction applies only to lofty spiritual matters. For simple struggles and basic weaknesses, he may imagine that he does not need a Rav, and that he can wait until Hashem inspires him from Above.

The lesson here is the opposite.

When there is even a concern of “It is Me that they have rejected,” one must appoint a king—“Who are the kings? The Rabbis.”

In other words, precisely when a person is struggling with basic matters and needs guidance, discipline, and kabbalas ol, that is when the need to “make for yourself a Rav” is especially important.