It is man's clamoring nature to be ruled by a monarchy.
To put all power into the hands of a man whom they want to provide for them and save them rather than risk liberty and put their faith in their Creator.
Ancient Israel demanded one, even though they were warned of the consequences, and that they would lose their liberties, their sons, their wealth, their peace, their property.
They did not care. They ELECTED a monarchy to rule them, and God gave them over to their demands and selected their first for them. They chose worse and worse for themselves until they wiped themselves out.
The government becomes God and takes the place of Provider when a people empower it to do the things this people want the government to do for them, even when they call themselves a democracy. All experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer evil, while evils are sufferable than abolish the forms to which they have become accustomed.
Liberty is a risk most do not want. They want the freedom to what they want without consequences and to have someone else pay for it. No better definition of dependence upon men I can think of.