King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Chapters: I Samuel 8-11
Message: I Samuel: Israel Demands A King
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of 1 Samuel we learn that even children raised in a Godly home can become influenced by the world and fall into its trap, and while God does appoint leaders to oversee His people He ought to be the one we turn to for guidance and direction.
[Hebrews 13:5-9 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.]
It is not like God does not want us to reach for better things, but if we do not learn to be content with what we have right now then there will be no joy and we would risk getting caught up in the world’s facade. Yesterday we learned that God sent His judgment on Eli and his sons, the Ark was taken by the Philistines, but was finally returned although it is sitting in a town called Kirjathjearim and Samuel became the judge in which he judged the nation for twenty years. Today we learn that Samuel was getting old and not getting around so well so he made his sons as judges over Israel. Unbeknownst to him, while they were not wicked like Eli’s sons, they were the politicians of their day, making themselves rich by taking bribes.
[1 Samuel 8:1-6 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 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. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.]
I have learned the hard way that before making a decision that I need to pray about it, but I am still not so good at doing that when it comes to the smaller things. Israel wanted to be like everyone else and have a ruler rule over them and I get it, we need some leadership because without it we are like a ship without its rudder, floating around with no direction, [James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.]
As any parent it grieved Samuel that his sons were not walking in his ways, the Bible says, [Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.] but when that does not happen it brings great grief and shame, but what displeased him more was their demand for a king because that reflected upon God. Nevertheless, God answered Samuel and allowed them a king, although He did not see this as an opportunity for them to be more obedient.
[1 Samuel 8:7-9 And the LORD said unto Samuel, 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. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I 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. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.]
If they wanted a king to rule over them then so be it, but they were going to understand that is doing so they are not going to lose their freedom and everything they own, including their children will be subject to the king. Oh, and if they thought that what Samuel’s sons were doing was bad, they had no idea what they were getting themselves into once they were granted their earthly king.
[1 Samuel 8:10-11,13-14,18 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.]
Note that it says, [the people that asked of him a king.] not everyone there was keen on the idea of having a king rule over them. Saved, born again Christians have the best leader there is and that is our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ Himself, but since He is not physically with us right now He sends us under shepherds to give us direction in the form of pastors, deacons, evangelists and other God fearing Christians like missionaries, teachers, and ministers. Jesus will even go as far as place His saints in the secular world so they might be a light to brings others to Him, [John 17:15-16,20-21 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.]
Israel truly did not understand how free they were under God’s rule, and sadly, this is the majority of people, they want to have government provide for and take care of their every need. The problem with that is that a lot of people who rule over us tend to become corrupt with all that power. This was what Samuel was trying to show them, but that did not concern them.
[1 Samuel 8:19-22 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 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. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.]
Since they demanded a king God was at least going to give them the opportunity to be led by someone who feared Him so He appointed them a king. God chose a handsome young, humble and God fearing man who was very tall, about seven feet, and his name was Saul, he just did not know that yet.
[1 Samuel 9:1-3,5 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. 5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.]
Saul’s thought that if they were gone any longer that his father would think that something bad happened to the, but it happened to be that they were not far from Samuel’s home. Saul’s servant suggested that they find him to see if he could be of help.
[1 Samuel 9:6-9 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)]
Saul wanted to make sure that he had something to give the man of God for helping them, it was custom back then to have something for the prophet simply out of respect. Saul appears as a God-fearing man, who valued the word of the servant of God, he like the suggestion his servant gave so they sought Samuel.
[1 Samuel 9:11-12,14-16 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? 12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: 14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. 15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.]
Believe it or not, the people we have in office today, even the corrupt politicians, were appointed by God. If they want an earthly king to rule over them and refuse to live decent and moral lives then they will suffer with an ungodly ruler until they repent, [Jeremiah 18:8-10 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.]
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He changes for no one, and yet gives all the opportunity to repent and be used as a vessel of honor. This is what God was going to do with Saul, Samuel knew that they were coming because God had already let him know that and as soon as Saul saw Samuel he was eager to speak with him, but watch what he says.
[1 Samuel 9:18-20 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. 20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?]
When Samuel said this to Saul I am sure that he was quite shocked to know that he knew why they were there not to mention where they could find the donkey’s. However, what shocked him even more is that he invited him to dinner, in fact he even goes on to ask him why, [1 Samuel 9:21-22 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? 22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.]
This reminds me of something Jesus said, [Luke 14:8-11 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.]
Humility goes a long way with God, you take a person so full of pride at one point that they were deemed unusable who repents and watch what God will do in their lives. Well, the next morning Samuel gave Saul more instructions, and there was no time for them to be wasting the day.
[1 Samuel 9:25-27 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.]
Wow, this may just have been the first act of witnessing in the Scriptures, Samuel, literally took him to the side and spoke the Word of God to him, but then took a vial of oil and poured it on his head and told him what to do next to retrieve the donkey’s.
[1 Samuel 10:1-3 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:]
This is the Gospel of their day, the inheritance that God gives His chosen is unlike anything that we could get here on earth, [Hebrews 9:14-15 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.]
Well, the anointing was not all that Saul would receive, once he came to the top of the hill something else happened, [1 Samuel 10:5-7,9 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. 9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.]
The Holy Spirit definitely does give us another heart the second that we accept Christ as our Saviour, in fact, He is the one who teaches us the ways of God, [Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.]
Saul really could not understand how any of this was possible, after all, he was of the lowest of the tribes, and neither could the people, once he was anointed with the Spirit he began talking as one of the prophets, and the people were stunned. He even ran into his uncle and while he did tell him about meeting Samuel he said nothing about being anointed.
[1 Samuel 10:10-11,14-16 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? 14 And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel. 15 And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.]
Now, Samuel calls all the tribes together to officially call him as king. Saul was pretty scared to stand before the congregation, what would he do if they rejected him and quite a few did, in fact, he was hiding.
[1 Samuel 10:18-21 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: 19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.]
The biggest, tallest man in all the nation of Israel and he is hiding out of fear. Of course, they found him, actually God was the one who pointed out where he was.
[1 Samuel 10:23-27 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 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. 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.]
I do not think that Saul comprehended what happened yet, in fact, while they were yelling, “God save the king!” he ran back home. And the news that Israel now had a king was not so good to everyone. Ammon, rebelled and wanted to start a nation of their own, with a price. However, with Saul’s new heart he was able to communicate with God, and be the king He anointed him to be.
[1 Samuel 11:1-4 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.]
Now, with a plan at hand, crossing the Jordan in the evening, Saul, marched his army all night, and came at daybreak on the camp of the Ammonites, who were surprised in three different parts, and totally rooted.
[1 Samuel 11:6-7,11 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.]
There is nothing like the fear of death to bring the fear of God in people, [2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]
Now, with a plan at hand, crossing the Jordan in the evening, Saul, marched his army all night, and came at daybreak on the camp of the Ammonites, who were surprised in three different parts, and totally routed, [1 Samuel 11:12-15 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. 14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 Samuel 11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for the freewill to decide how I believe and what I want to do with my life and thank You for changing my heart. You saw something in me before I was even born that You knew I would find Your Son, You watched over me, protected me through my crazy pursuits, and yet was willing to accept me as I am once I was ready to fully accept Your Son. Lord, since You know my heart better than I do, reveal to me anything that hardens it. Give me a servants heart always and keep my heart open completely to let You rule every area of my life. Let the Holy Spirt do His work in me so that I may be keep someone from death today. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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