Saul, the First King

I. The Establishment of Saul as King – 1 Samuel 8-11

A. God Chooses to give Israel what they want - Chapter 8

“But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be 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.” And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”” (1 Samuel 8:19–22, ESV)

B. The Unassuming Saul – Chapter 9

“There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” (1 Samuel 9:1–2, ESV)

C. The Anointing of a Hesitant Saul – Chapter 10

“So they inquired again of the LORD, “Is there a man still to come?” and the LORD said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.” (1 Samuel 10:22–23, ESV)

D. Saul Takes the Lead – Chapter 11

“So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.” (1 Samuel 11:15, ESV)

II. The Unstable Acts of Saul Leading to Rejection – 1 Samuel 13-15

A. An Impatient Sacrifice – Chapter 13

“And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”” (1 Samuel 13:13– 14, ESV)

B. An Impulsive Vow – Chapter 14

“Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint. Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”” (1 Samuel 14:28–30, ESV)

C. An Incomplete Obedience – Chapter 15

see III. C.

III. Lessons from Saul

A. Sometimes, God Gives us What We Want.

“There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah,  a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” (1 Samuel 9:1–2, ESV)

B. Don’t Get Ahead of God

“He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him.” (1 Samuel 13:8–10, ESV)

C. God Wants My Obedience

“And Samuel said, “Has 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 listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”” (1 Samuel 15:22–23, ESV)

Questions:

1. Consider the things that you want most in this life, a good job, house, bank accounts… How do those things fit into God’s plan for you?

2. What area of your life are you most prone to doing something and expecting God to bless it? What steps do you need to take to release that back to God everyday?

3. What has God said and what are you doing?