Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Samuel 8:4-9

"Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah; and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Jehovah. And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them." — 1 Samuel 8:4-9 (ASV)

Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When anything disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to lay our trouble before God.

Samuel was to tell them that they would have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but just as He sometimes opposes us out of loving-kindness, so at other times He gratifies us in wrath; He did so here. God knows how to bring glory to Himself and serves His own wise purposes, even through human foolish counsels.