Israel mistakenly attributed the success of the other nations to them having a king, rather than God’s discipline. For Israel, with their wandering hearts, many thought a king would permit them victory regardless of their behavior.
So they insisted that Samuel, a righteous judge, anoint Saul the king of Israel (1Samuel 8:1-5). Samuel saw right through their plan and urged them to recall that God was their king. God, noting their rejection of him, nevertheless permitted them to have a king. Saul was indeed a king like the other nations.He raised their taxes, he took from their land what he wanted, and called their sons away on military duty. Had worship and righteousness been their priority, they would have enjoyed God’s blessing and bounty. Asking to be like the other nations instead of being the light to the nationsas they were supposed to be continues to mark their long road towards right worship.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Many religions invoke God as “Father”. The deity is often considered the “father of gods and of men”. In Israel, God is called “Father” inasmuch as he is Creator of the world. Even more, God is Father because of the covenant and the gift of the law to Israel, “his first-born son”. God is also called the Father of the king of Israel. Most especially he is “the Father of the poor”, of the orphaned and the widowed, who are under his loving protection.
CCC, 238
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