When God establishes the covenant with the nation of Israel, he establishes himself as king. Israel is to have no other king other than God. But in the law itself, God makes provision for the day in which they will have a human king, a king who would not replace God, but represent God to the people. That comes to fulfillment with King David. Of course there's a first attempt when Israel asks for a king, but they don't want God's king. They want a king like the nations because they want to be like the nations. So, God gives them a king like the nations, Saul, who turns out to be much more like a Gentile king than the king after God's own heart.
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