King Saul

1 Samuel 8:1-10:27

Samuel's sons did not follow the Lord; they turned aside after gain. What is it to gain that is not from God? Why do any of us look for things that are not of God? How is it that our sons and daughters turn aside from following the Lord?

Samuel is unhappy for himself and for the Lord-why do the people ask for a king?


And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

Samuel warns Israel of all the demands the King will make of them-the list includes things and amounts that should go as a thank offering to the Lord. He will take the best of your fields, he will take a tenth of your grain...the best of your young men, your cattle your donkeys...a tenth of your flocks and you will be his slaves.


Does Israel say oops sorry we made a mistake? NO, they say oh yes give us this King! WHY? So we shall be like other nations.

Now I've been reading this story all along, and Israel was not supposed to be like other nations; Israel was supposed to be a light to other nations. Israel was supposed to be free to live in the land the Lord gave them, and now they wish to give these freedoms back and to become slaves again to a king. Again, I wonder why?

And even in this tragic selfishness the Lord doesn't abandon them. This is what he says: Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen [the anguish of] my people, because their cry has come to me."


This story of Saul unfolds slowly for us, Saul is a beautiful young man, and humble. Considerate of his father.
...and when he turned his back on Samuel, to go home, God gave him another heart.


Saul is anointed king and heads home to his own house. Along with some men of valor whose hearts God had touched.

I pray that God might touch my heart. That he might give me another heart; one that seeks to do His will and not my own; to follow His commands and not my own whims.

See you tomorrow.
-maggie