Questions for Thought
- Have you ever wanted something so badly you ignored all the indications that what you wanted might not be what you needed? If so, what were the results?
- Why do people who claim to love God and Jesus often decide to do things their own way rather than the way God has revealed in His word?
In the last blog, we looked at how God’s people, Israel, decided they wanted a king like the nations around them. Even though God had given them everything they needed and had cleared the way for them to take the land of Canaan for their own, the people were not satisfied. They complained and complained and finally God in fulfillment of a previous prophecy said they could have kings. According to history, Israel remained a united twelve tribes under three kings from 1050 to 930 B.C. The three kings during this period were Saul, David, and Solomon. After the death of Solomon, the tribes divided with ten tribes being known as Israel and two being known as Judah. In this blog, we will look at life and events under the first of the three kings, Saul.
In 1 Samuel 9-10, we have the account of the anointing of the first king of Israel. God had told Samuel He was sending him a man out of the land of Benjamin and Samuel was to anoint him as king. So Samuel went to the place appointed by God to meet the man who would be king. In the meantime, this man, Saul was out looking for the missing donkeys of his dad, Kish. Saul and his servant did not find the donkeys, so Saul was ready to go back to his dad, but the servant suggested they go on to the city and find the prophet who might tell them where the donkeys were. At first Saul hesitated because he had no gift for the prophet, but when the servant told Saul he had a fourth of a shekel of silver they could give the prophet as a gift, Saul agreed to go inquire of Samuel concerning the donkeys. As Saul and his servant went into the city, they asked some young women if the prophet was in the city. The women said he had just came to the city that day and there was to be a special sacrifice that day. The women said for Saul and his servant to hurry up and they would catch him before the sacrifice.
When Saul and his servant approached Samuel, God revealed to Samuel it was this man who would be the king. When Saul came nearer to Samuel, he asked Samuel where the prophet’s house was and Samuel told him he was the prophet. He told Saul to go on up to the high place because he was going to eat with Samuel that day and the next day, Samuel would tell him all that he needed to know. In addition, Samuel told Saul the donkeys were found. So Saul ate with Samuel and about 30 others who had been invited to the meal by Samuel. Saul was given the largest portion of food. Early the next day, Samuel prepared Saul for his journey and told him to send the servant on ahead but for Saul to stay there with Samuel until he could tell him the word of God.
Samuel then took a vial or flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him and told him the Lord had anointed him to be the captain over His people. Then Samuel proceeded to tell Saul the things that would happen to him on his journey home. He was going to see two men by Rachel’s grave who would tell him the donkeys had been found and that his dad was sorrowing for Saul. Then he would meet three men going to Beth-el to worship who would give him food. Then he would meet a company of prophets who were prophesying and he would begin to prophesy with them. Samuel told Saul he was then to go on to Gilgal where Samuel would meet him to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices and tell him what he was to do. Everything happened as Samuel told Saul it would. When Saul came to his uncle who asked him where he had been and what Samuel had told him, Saul told him only about the donkeys having been found. He did not tell him what Samuel said about him going to be king.
So Samuel called the people together at Mizpeh and told them how they had rejected God who had brought them out of Egypt. He told them how they had asked for a king to be set over them. He told them to present themselves before the Lord by their tribes. Samuel then began to call them out by tribes and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. Then when he called out the families, the family of Matri was taken and from that family Saul the son of Kish was called, but he could not be found. The Lord revealed to them Saul was hiding and they went and got him and brought him to Samuel. Samuel told the people this Saul was the one God had chosen as their leader and the people shouted, “God save the king.” Many of the people were happy, but there was a group of rebels who were not pleased and they they gave Saul no presents, but he did not complain about it.
Soon Saul had the chance to prove himself as a leader. The men of Jabesh-gilead were about to have to enter into a covenant with Nahash who had taken land near their land. Nahash was either going to kill the men of Jabesh or put out their right eye. The leaders asked for seven days to find someone who could help them. A messenger went to Saul in Gibeah and told him what was happening. The Spirit of God came upon Saul and he became very angry. Saul cut up a pair of oxen and sent them throughout all Israel with the message that whoever did not come out to help Jabesh would be treated in the same manner. The fear of the Lord fell on the people and 330,000 came out to fight.
The men of Jabesh told Nahash they would come out the next day and Nahash could do whatever he chose to them, but Saul was ready for them. He put the men in three groups and they killed the men of Nahash. Those who were followers of Saul then wanted to kill the rebels who had not wanted Saul to be king, but Saul said no. So Samuel told the people to go to Gilgal where they would renew the kingdom there. They did and there they made Saul king with many sacrifices and peace offerings. Samuel used the occasion to once more remind the people of how evil they had been in the past. He assured them in 1 Samuel 12:14-15 if they would fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice and not rebel against Him, they would continue following the Lord, but if they would not obey the voice of the Lord, then His hand would be against them as it had been against their fathers.
Saul started out serving God and obeying Him, but by year two of his reign, he had become too proud and puffed up. There was battle going on and Samuel had told Saul to wait for him seven days, but Samuel did not arrive when Saul thought he should. Saul then took it upon himself to offer the burnt offering. When Samuel got to the place, he condemned Saul and told him if he had obeyed, God would have established his kingdom upon Israel forever but because of his disobedience, his kingdom would not continue.
The Philistines continued to oppose the Israelites. On a certain day, Saul’s son Jonathan took the young man who carried his armor and went over to see what was going on with the Philistines. While there God delivered many Philistines into their hands and caused the Philistines to fight against each other. Clearly the Israelites had won but only through God’s intervention. They Israelites were very hungry because Saul had forbidden them to eat anything until the evening. Jonathan had not heard him say this so when he came upon honey dripping, he ate it and was greatly refreshed. But Saul realized there was something wrong when God did not answer him regarding whether or not to pursue the Philistines that night. The next day when Saul found out what Jonathan had done, he was prepared to kill him but the people saved him.
Saul continued to fight the battles against those who opposed Israel. There was war with the Philistines throughout his reign. Samuel went to Saul and reminded him about how Amalek had treated Israel and told him to go and smite them and to utterly destroy all they had including humans and animals. Saul and his men did smite the Amalekites, but Saul kept back the best of the animals for sacrifice along with King Agag. Samuel went back to Saul and Saul told him he had done as the Lord commanded. Samuel asked Saul if he had done what God said then what was the noise he heard of the animals. Saul said the people had spared the best of the animals for sacrifice. Samuel then asked Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” He went on to tell Saul because he had rejected God, God had rejected him as king. Saul admitted in verse 24 he had sinned and in verse 25, he asked Samuel to return with him to worship the Lord. Samuel at first refused, but then after Saul tore Samuel’s clothes, he agreed to go to worship but he did not go back to see Saul any more even though he did mourn for Saul.
At the beginning of 1 Samuel 16, God asked Samuel how long he was going to morn for Saul since it was clear God had rejected him from being king. He told Samuel He was going to send him out to anoint another king. Next time, we will learn who this man was and why he was a man after God’s own heart.
Christian Women's Responsibility in Sharing God's Word 