Israel’s First King

GOLDEN TEXT: “Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” —I Samuel 12:24

I SAMUEL 10:17-27

SAMUEL had served the Lord and the Lord’s people faithfully, so when they asked to have a king rule over them in his place, he took it very much to heart, and went to the Lord in prayer about it. The Lord answered, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”—I Sam. 8:7

While the Lord instructed Samuel to yield to the demands of the people by letting them have a king, nevertheless he wanted them to be warned as to what to expect: that under a king they would lose much of their liberty and be subject to exploitation and oppression. (I Sam. 8:10-18) But the people did not choose to heed this warning and continued to ask for a king.—vss. 19,20

Having, through Samuel, warned the people what to expect, the Lord directed in the selection of the nation’s first king, who was an outstanding member of the tribe of Benjamin. Today’s lesson pertains to the selection of Saul to be king, and his presentation to the people.

Samuel called the people together at Mizpeh and emphasized that in asking for a king they had rejected the Lord, and were failing to take into consideration the marvelous manner in which he had cared for them as their King, their Ruler. But this did not change their minds, so the Lord allowed Samuel to proceed with the selection of their first king.

There is a timely lesson in this for all the Lord’s people. We cannot assume that everything we insist upon doing is the Lord’s will simply because he does not hinder us from having our own way. The Lord may well permit us to do things which he knows are not wise, and therefore not in harmony with his will, that we might learn needed lessons in patiently waiting upon him.

The Israelites were God’s people, and while he knew that it would not be in their best interest to have a king, he permitted them to have their way. Indeed, he overruled in their mistake so that their kings became his representatives. Thus the throne of the kingdom of Israel was the throne of the Lord, and used by him to foreshadow the rulership of Christ.—I Chron. 29:11,23

Saul was the one chosen by the Lord to be Israel’s first king. It is evident that Saul was not seeking this position, for when the choice fell on him he could not be found. But the Lord knew where he was, and said, “Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.” (vs. 22) The Lord knows the whereabouts of all whom he chooses for special positions among his people, and he knows how to bring them forth when his own due time arrives. Those who attempt to place themselves in prominent positions are not thereby pleasing to the Lord.

Saul was “higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.” (vss. 23,24) This was the first time the expression, “God save the king” was ever used, for it was the first time the people of God had a king.

It was proper enough that the Israelites at that time should ask God to protect and bless their king, for Saul was the Lord’s own choice. And Jehovah did bless Saul as long as he remained faithful to him. God has never continued to bless those who are not faithful to him, whether they be prominent or obscure in his service.

While today’s lesson records the selection of Saul, and his presentation to the people, it was later, at Gilgal, that he was made king. (I Sam. 11:15) It was after this that Samuel again reminded the Israelites that they had sinned against God by asking for a king.

Then the people said to Samuel, “Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.” (I Sam. 12:19) In response Samuel said that it would be a sin on his part not to pray for the Israelites. (vs. 23) Then follows the admonition of the Golden Text, admonishing them to serve the Lord with all their hearts.

QUESTIONS

How did the Lord overrule the sin of Israel in asking to have a king rule over them?

May we properly assume that we are doing God’s will simply because he does not hinder us in what we are doing?

What sort of man was King Saul?

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