God Grants Israel a King

MEMORY VERSE: “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 8:47; 9:27–10:1; 12:19-22; 18:8,9

SAMUEL served Israel as judge for many years. When he became old he appointed his sons to succeed him; but these sons were not faithful to the Lord, and apparently the Lord did not permit them to take over the office of judgeship. It was at this point that “the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”—I Sam. 8:4,5

This displeased Samuel very much, for he felt that after years of faithful service to Israel his people were rejecting him. He took the matter to the Lord in prayer, and the Lord said to him, “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. 8:6,7

The Lord explained to Samuel that he was not to be surprised at this turn of events, for after all the pattern of the Israelites’ behavior had been one of disobedience ever since he had brought them up out of Egypt, “even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.”—I Sam. 8:8

While Samuel was instructed by the Lord to yield to the demands of the Israelites, he was told also to protest, and to warn them of how they would be caused to suffer under the oppressive hands of kings. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”—I Sam. 8:9-20

Obeying the voice of the Lord, Samuel proceeded to provide Israel with a king. The Lord directed him to Saul: “And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall rule over my people.” (I Sam. 9:17) In due course Samuel anointed Saul to be Israel’s first king.—I Sam. 9:27–10:1

When a suitable time came, Samuel took occasion to remind the Israelites very forcibly of their sin in asking for a king. It was at the time of wheat harvest, and Samuel called on the Lord to send thunder and rain, which he did. “And all the people said unto 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. 12:17-19

Samuel did not ignore the fact that the people had sinned, yet he admonished them that if henceforth they would serve the Lord, “the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.” (I Sam. 12:20-22) Samuel assured the people that he would indeed pray for them.

Saul was a good king to start with, while humble, and served the people well for about two years. But this did not continue (see I Samuel 13:8-14). In due time David appeared on the scene, and was successful in slaying Goliath, the Philistine giant who had been defying Saul and the Israelitish army. This resulted in the defeat of the Philistines, and naturally David became very popular.

When David returned from the slaughter of the giant “the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, … and the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (I Sam. 18:6,7) This made Saul very angry and he “eyed David from that day and forward.”—I Sam. 18:8,9

Saul’s downward course as a king of Israel continued; his hatred of David increased, and he tried to destroy him. His disobedience to the Lord’s instructions continued and he was cast off (see I Samuel 15:3-26), from being God’s representative David being anointed in his place. Finally, rejected by the Lord, and overpowered by the Philistines, he fell upon his sword, thus taking his own life. All this because Saul failed to keep his heart humble and pure before the Lord.

QUESTIONS

Explain the circumstances under which Israel began to have kings.

Who was Israel’s first king?

What brought about his degradation and defeat?

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