Gregory the Dialogist

Therefore, he adds and says: "But when you saw that Nahash was coming up and would fight against you, you said: 'By no means,' but rather, 'A king shall reign over us' — even though the Lord was reigning over you." 6. As if he were saying: For this purpose you have chosen a man for yourselves, for which you used to have God. If we wish to examine this passage spiritually, the following is gathered from it: that those who desire a carnal ruler to be set over them drive away divine grace from themselves. …

Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 2 ↗