Last time, we saw that Israel demanded a human king to rule over them rather than
God. Through the prophet Samuel, Jehovah told them that even though He was their rightful King, He would allow them a king, even though it would be disastrous (see What Results When We Reject God’s Kingship?).
One sure thing about God, He never lies.[1] Let’s meet this first human king:
There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin…His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. 1 Sm. 9:1, 2. NLT
One day, Kish’s donkeys wander off, and he sends Saul and a servant to bring them back. Saul was just about to give up the search, when his servant remembers that there is a ‘man of God’ in a town that they were approaching (who just happens to be the prophet Samuel).
On the previous day, Jehovah told Samuel that He was going to send a man from the tribe of Benjamin, whom he was to anoint as the new leader of Israel. God’s intent was to use Saul to deliver Israel from their Philistine enemies.
When Saul approached, Samuel told him that his father’s donkeys had been found, but also that he had a most important message to tell him from God Himself:
Then Samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has the Lord not anointed you as ruler over His inheritance (Israel)? 1 Sm. 10:1 AMP
Samuel is privately making Saul aware that he will be king. He tells Saul to go position himself at the ‘high place’ (place of worship). There, he will meet a group of prophets engaged in prophesying, and that the Spirit of God would come upon him and empower him for this first monarchy in Israel. He finishes his conversation with a warning:
“After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.” 1 Sm. 10:7, 8. NLT
Then, Samuel, speaking for God, rebukes the people in a public address, for rejecting Him:
“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘It was I who brought Israel up from Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ But today you have rejected your God, who Himself saves you from all your disasters and distresses; yet you have said, ‘No! Set a king over us.’ Now then, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your families (clans).” 1 Sm. 10:18, 19. AMP
God had all the tribes draw lots for their choices in who would be king. Just by chance (?), Saul was publicly chosen to be their ruler.
A month passes, and Saul hears about an attack on a town in Israel by Nahash, an Ammonite king (descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew). The town wants to enter a peace treaty, but the king’s price to pay for that peace, is the removal of everyone’s right eye.
Saul is filled with the Spirit of God, cuts up a team of oxen and sends the pieces to all of Israel, telling them that the same thing will happen to their oxen if they do not rise as an army to rescue the town. 330,000 men showed up.
The Ammonites were slaughtered. How so?
“…today the Lord has brought victory to Israel.” 1 Sm. 11:13 AMP
After the victory, Saul was officially enthroned as king of Israel. At that time, Samuel admonished the people one more time about wanting a human king, but God mercifully offers a caveat:
“If you will fear the Lord [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, then both you and your king will follow the Lord your God [and it will be well]. But if you do not listen to the Lord’s voice, but rebel against His command, then the hand of the Lord will be against you [to punish you], as it was against your fathers.” 1 Sm. 12:14, 15. AMP
“The Lord will not abandon His people for His great name’s sake, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.” 1 Sm. 12:22 AMP
The Christian Bible translations tell us that Saul was 30 when he became king and reigned for 42 years.[2] The Hebrew text does not present any numerical values for this time period.
King Saul sent his son, Johnathan, to attack and defeat a Philistine garrison. The Philistines retaliated:
The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! 1 Sm. 13:5 NLT
Note that Israel had not embraced the Iron Age yet. So, the chariots presented quite a threat. Israel showed up with slings, bows, and arrows. Saul’s army fled.
Now Saul waited seven days, according to the appointed time which Samuel had set, but Samuel had not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering away from Saul. So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do]. 1 Sm. 13:8 – 10. AMP
Only priests could offer sacrifices to Jehovah, and He is immensely strict when it comes to His statutes. Indeed, in that very instant that Saul began his sacrifice, Samuel shows up, and he is hot!
“What have you done?” Saul said, “Since I saw that the people were scattering away from me, and that you did not come within the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the Lord’s favor [by making supplication to Him].’ So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.” Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for [if you had obeyed] the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man (David) after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as leader and ruler over His people, because you have not kept (obeyed) what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Sm. 13:11 – 14. AMP
Unbeknownst to Saul, Johnathan, in faith, took his armor bearer, and the two of them faced their foes. God imbued them with His Spirit.
They immediately killed 20 men by themselves and God Himself sent an earthquake.
Ahijah was a priest who sought God for His will to Saul regularly. He had come to pray for the troops, but Saul stopped him because he wanted to make his own plans. Yet another breech of Jehovah’s protocol.
And then, Saul ordered Ahijah to bring the Ark of the Covenant to use like a good luck charm. One mistake after another…
The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. 1 Sm. 14:52 NLT
God calls upon Saul once more:
One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” 1 Sm. 15:1 – 3. NLT
Instead, Saul lets the Amalekite king live, and kept the best of the spoils for themselves. This did not escape the eyes of God:
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” 1 Sm. 15:10, 11. NLT
The next day, Samuel tracks down Saul, who is having a monument of himself being made, and admonishes him for his disobedience to God:
“For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling), and disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you as king.” 1 Sm. 15:23 AMP
Saul finally admits that he has sinned against God, but Samuel doesn’t let up:
“The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. Also the Splendor and Glory and Eminence of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”
1 Sm. 15:28, 29. AMP
Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel grieved over Saul. 1 Sm. 15:35 AMP
Will the second time be the charm? We’ll see next time…
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Nu 23:19
[2] 1 Sm. 13:1