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: Friday, April 11, 2025
Chapters: I Samuel 12-14
Message: I Samuel: Saul Reigns As King
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of 1 Samuel we learn that those who put their trust in man’s abilities will never prosper, there is only one way to get God’s attention and one offering acceptable to Him, and there is a reason why Jesus said, [Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.]
We know that the Holy Spirit lives in the heart and soul of those who sincerely accept Christ as their Saviour and He can never leave them, but what many do not realize is that a heart that has not fully accepted Him can turn on Him, which is why Jesus also said this, [Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.]
We will understand this a lot more as we read through 1 Samuel, yesterday we learned that Israel demanded an earthly king to rule over them and God obliged and chose a Godly man named Saul to be their king. Today, we learn what happened during the first two years of his reign, first, Samuel gathers the people together and presents Saul to them, and he was not happy at all. In fact, he was quite distraught and felt as though he did something wrong. He wanted to make sure that if he had done something to offend them to let him know now so that there were no hard feelings.
[1 Samuel 12:1-4 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. 4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.]
It really is disheartening to us when we think we have done our best only to be replaced, one of the things that bothers me most when people choose someone else over me is when they tell me that it is not personal. What they really mean by that is that it is not personal to them and they are only looking out for who and what benefits them. This is why so many people are fly by night Christians, they come to Christ through some church that solely feeds their needs that is until they are afflicted or no longer getting those benefits. Jesus said it this way, [Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.]
Samuel goes on to remind Israel of constant their demise from the start when their fathers had turned on God time and time again since they left Egypt, and yet He was always faithful to send them help when they cried out to Him. He goes on to mention some of the judges before he became judge.
[1 Samuel 12:7-8,11-12 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. 8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe. 12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.]
I do not know about you, but I would much rather have Christ reign over me than man any day, and it is usually the lazy people who spent their entire lives never working for anything other than to cause unnecessary hardship on those who do work hard. They were putting trust in a man to take care if their needs, keep them safe, and provide for them, rather than God and actually putting in some effort for themselves. To show Israel that God was not pleased with their decision either Samuel asked God to send a thunder storm.
[1 Samuel 12:16-19 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 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.]
So why was this considered wickedness? Remember what God told Samuel? [1 Samuel 8:7 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.] This was done to show them that in their asking for an earthly king they were telling God that they were rejecting Him. And it worked too, they begged Samuel to pray for them, and He does give them some hope.
[1 Samuel 12:20-25 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.]
It really is quite astounding and unbelievable just how much we mean to God, and any time we seek other means to get the things we need and desire God actually takes it personally. Yes, He wants us to put our best foot forward, but He also wants us to trust Him for what we have need of. Jesus said it this way, [Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.]
For two years Saul had it good, there was no fighting with their enemies, but that was over, he had a son named, Jonathan, who was the head of the army of their tribe, Jonathan attacked a camp where the Philistines were stationed, it was then that Saul boasted about it, but when the Philistines heard what happened they gathered a huge army together in retaliation.
[1 Samuel 13:2-4 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.]
Here is this army scattered all over the nation and even crossed over the Jordan to escape the Philistines because the only people who had weapons were Jonathan and Saul. Saul knew that he needed God’s help in this and called for Samuel, but he was late getting there and instead of waiting he offered sacrifices.
[1 Samuel 13:6-10 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.]
Here was Saul thinking that he was doing a good thing by offering up a burnt offering to God but there were several things wrong here, first, there was no repentance, second, only a consecrated priest or at the least a Levite was able to perform this rite, and third, he was too impatient. Sadly, right at that moment God saw that Saul’s heart had changed and he was not the humble servant he use to be.
[1 Samuel 13:11-14 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.]
It was his impatience that was the bigger sin here and as you may have noticed there was no repentance only an excuse. Just as God will have no other gods before Him He will have no excuses either, at that instant God revoked His decision in Saul being king and anyone else in his family. We know that his heart changed toward God because God said that He was seeking a man of His own heart. Now, we can mess up a thousand times a day and God will forever have His mercy and grace upon us, but if there is the slightest change in our heart He will know and call us out on it too, [Genesis 4:6-7 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.]
This must have went right over Saul’s head because he just kept on making one foolish decision after another. Now, we heard mention of Jonathan at the beginning of our reading, he was the only God fearing son that Saul had, and he was a warrior at that, we learn more about Johnathan, and how he had led the Philistines to fight another while his father made an even more mess of things.
[1 Samuel 14:1,3,6-7 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. 3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.]
Remember Ichabod? He was the son born during the time that Eli’s died as well as his sons. This man was the great-grandson of Eli, also known as Abimelech, [1 Samuel 4:20-21 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.]
Since Samuel was not there, Saul pulled out all the stops to try and stop the Philistines, but at this point God was no longer with him. On the other hand he was with Johnathan and led him and his armor bearer to execute twenty Philistines and not only that the Philistines started killing each other.
[1 Samuel 14:12-14,16 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.]
Jonathan knew that if they had any chance to defeat the Philistines it would be from God, but he also knew that if they were defeated that it would also be from God. We may not realize it, but our defeats actually do more good than our victories sometimes because those are what God uses to establish us, [1 Peter 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.]
Now, Saul, hearing all the commotion, sent his men in and made another grave mistake, [1 Samuel 14:17-20 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there. 18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.]
Everything was going just fine until Saul showed up, demanding that they bring the Ark of the Covenant. Does any of this sound familiar? Did not they make this mistake before in thinking that the Ark was the very presence of God? All Saul had to do was repent and ask God to forgive him and God would have changed things for him, instead he takes things into his own hands again only to learn that the Philistines were destroying one another with their own swords.
[1 Samuel 14:23-25,27-28 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven. 24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.]
When Jonathan heard that rash vow from his father he thought that it was absurd and encouraged them to eat. Well this caused a huge problem because they were so hungry that the second they saw food they turned into savages, literally killing animals and eating the meat raw.
[1 Samuel 14:29-30,32-33 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? 32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.]
Saul, knew that they were not to eat blood and tries to get God’s attention by building an altar and offering a sacrifice. Saul, thought that the reason why God did not answer was because Jonathan caused the people to become savages. Once again, he took the Law into his own hands an offers another sacrifice to God.
[1 Samuel 14:35,37-39 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. 38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 39 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.]
On top of that Saul was still willing to have his own son executed over something that he was actually the cause of in order to save his own life rather than admit that he made a bad decision in how he handled everything.
[1 Samuel 14:41-45 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die. 44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.]
Even though they were still facing a battle, God, delivered them from the Philistine and would have kept on doing so. I believe Jesus said something similar to His believers, [Luke 21:15-18 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 Samuel 14:45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy and grace, and for the liberty You have given me when I accepted Your Son as my Saviour. You know that I want to live my life as You would have me, if you were to evaluate me right now I know You will find a willing heart, but I also know there are some things that I need to work on. There are no excuses for disobeying Your commands, especially when I learn of something You do not approve of. Lord, Keep my heart tender and open to You, reveal to me anything that I need to repent of, and forgive me of my sins. Give me Your power to withstand the evils of the day, let me not put my trust in man, rather in You, my God and my King. Lead me and guide me, and train me the correct and righteous way. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright (c) 2025 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.