Character of God: 1 Samuel, Ezekiel

"The people all said to Samuel, 'Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.'
'Do not be afraid,' Samuel replied. 'You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart." 1 Samuel 12:19-20

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" Ezekiel 18:23

In 1 Samuel 12, the Israelites asked Samuel for a king to lead the nation, despite God having led them all this time. It was a sure sign of their lack of faith and obedience to God. It is made clear especially as the Israelites refer to the LORD as "your God" to Samuel. It should have been their own God as well. Despite the sin of the people, God simply demands that they from now on obey the Lord. 

In Ezekiel, God resounds judgment on all nations, yet, He remarks that he does not delight it the death of people. Rather, he insists that all turn their ways and praise Him. 

It is as with such verses that we are able to see the loving character of God. He remembers not the past, and simply demands the righteousness in the present. He is not a destructive king, but a loving one who wants the nations to turn back to Him.