SAUL

The story of Israel's first king is filled with contradictions and perplexities.  You'll find this history in I Samuel 8f.

The people of Israel approach Samuel (their spiritual leader) and asked him to appoint a king:  "We want a king over us.  Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."  [8:19-20]

Samuel was displeased at their request and prayed:  "...the LORD told him:  'Listen...it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.'"

Samuel proceeded to tell them all that would happen when they had a king:

• "He will take your sons and make them serve..."  [8:11]
• "He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers."  [8:13]
• "He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive fields..."  [8:14]
• "He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage..."  [8:15]
• "Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use."  [8:16]
• "He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves."  [8:17]

But still - they insisted on having a king.

Next, we are introduced to Saul, "...an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites - a head taller than any of the others."  [9:2].  

In his first biblical appearance, Saul is sent out (with a servant) by his father, Kish, to find some lost donkeys.  Margaret Feinberg writes:

"The first mention of someone in scripture often reveals something significant about the person's character.  The first king of Israel, Saul, is introduced as a young man trying unsuccessfully to find his father's donkeys.  This humerous scene hints at Saul's later inability to leads others well."  [SCOUTING THE DIVINE, p.57]

It is also worth noting that the first time around, God chooses a man who looks like a king.  The next time around, God looks on the heart.  [16:7]

We get another hint of Saul's lack of readiness to be king when Samuel comes to anoint him publicly and he can't be found [10:21-22]. 

Shortly after Saul is made king, the Ammonites threaten the village of Jabesh Gilead.  Saul rallies an army of over 330,000 men and wins a great victory.  To his credit, he proclaims, "...this day the LORD has rescued Israel."  [11:13].

Next, the Philistines assembled with a massive army to fight Israel.  Saul had been instructed by Samuel to wait for his arrival to make sacrifices before the battle.  Impatient in waiting, Saul offered up the burnt offering himself just before Samuel arrived.

Samuel said, "You acted foolishly...You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you...now your kingdom will not endure;  the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people..."  [12:13--14]

Saul's record of disobedience goes downhill from this point forward - even building a monument to himself [15:12].  As God favors David - the next king - Saul's rage becomes a decade-long obsession.  Samuel removes himself from Saul's presence.  Saul and his son, Jonathan (David's best friend) eventually die on the battlefield.  A sad ending to a legacy of disobedience.

What do we take away from this lengthy, Old Testament story?

• Good looks or strong stature does not guarantee success.
• One victory does not make an empire.
• Impatience is almost always a bad thing.
• Monuments are best built by others - not you.
• God never stopped being King of Israel;  He simply allowed Saul to be His earthly representative.  Saul never got that.  
• Nothing is more important than obedience to God's Word!