1 Samuel 8-10 Give Us a King

The people are NOT happy with Samuel’s sons as rulers over them. They want a king like all the other nations. “Give us a king” they shout. And God does.

God knew this day was coming all along. He even mentioned to Moses that Israel would one day have a king. He didn’t tell Moses any of the specifics though. Samuel will hear all about the cost. As will the people.

Israel has been living under different judges since moving into the land. Every time a judge rises up, the people turn back to the Lord; at least partway. When the judge dies, they go back to their old ways. Samuel was trying to give them some continuity by appointing his sons as judges as he ages. But their ways are NOT his ways. And the CERTAINLY are not God’s ways. Let’s join the people as they pursue a new avenue of leadership.

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Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah, are enjoying their new power over the people. Their father has been in a position of power all of their lives. They saw many opportunities, that they thought he should have taken advantage of, pass him by. He holds the power of life and death over the people, but refuses to exercise it to his own advantage. Not these men!

Joel and Abijah have found a way to make their appointment as judges for Israel pay off. Justice is available, to the highest bidder.

“What will you give me if I rule in your favor” asks Joel of a man who has come seeking relief.

“I have nothing to give. I’m only asking for what is right. That my boundary markers be upheld.”

Joel turns to the other man in this dispute, and raises his eyebrows suggestively.

The man smiles. He knows what is being asked, even if there are no words spoken. And he planned for it. He needs this new parcel of land for a road to pass between the two fields. He will gain an extra 100 feet on the entire right side of his property with the ‘adjustment’ of the boundary stones. The man cautiously uncovers a bag of coins tied to his belt.

Joel sees the bag and judges its weight to be about 50 pieces of silver. This is sufficient for a favorable verdict. Joel gives a nearly imperceptible nod before turning back to the man who brought the case.

“I’m sorry, but I find that, on careful review of the matter, the boundary stone had been previously moved. The man you are in conflict with is merely trying to restore it to its ancient position. Case dismissed.”

The first man goes away with fire in his eyes, but there is nothing he can do about his complaint. The other man moves to Joel to shake his hand, and quietly passes the bundle that was tied at his belt to Joel.

Joel feels the weight of the bag and nods his head again. “It was a pleasure doing business with you” he says as the man steps past him.

Abijah has been judging between two men over ownership of a small herd of goats. One man claims that the goats are his. They accidentally broke free two nights ago and wandered off. The second man claims them as his since they have done damage to his field. He says that they are a just price repay him for what he has lost.

Under the law, the owner is liable for damages caused by his animals, but they were found by the neighbor and included in his herd. The original owner of the animals is claiming, under the law, that they should have been returned when first discovered. By not doing so, it was theft and no damages should be awarded.

Abijah knows that the people know the ‘price’ of justice. He sits and waits until an offer is subtly made by one of the men. The neighbor uncovers a sweet cake his wife had baked that morning. The original owner displays 2 silver coins.

“Two coins is nothing” thinks Abijah, “but I am very hungry.” He smiles at both the participants of this dispute. “It is my ruling that the damages done by the goats is equal to their value. They shall remain the property of this man” Abijah says while pointing to the neighbor.

These kinds of rulings go on all day, every day, with Samuel’s sons. They are NOT seeking the Lord’s direction, nor following His Laws. They are doing what benefits them best. What suits their mood for the day. There is not a tribe or clan that these despicable perversions of justice have not touched. And the people are enraged over it!

“If Samuel would judge these cases himself, then we would know they were being judged fairly. These sons of his are no better than jackals!”

“We must tell Samuel about this.”

“Remember Eli? Even when he was told of his sons’ sins, he did nothing about it. Samuel will do no more than Eli did.”

“How do you know this?”

“Because he is too busy. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t have appointed his sons to stand in his place to begin with.”

“Then, what can we do?!”

“We need a king, like the other nations have. If we had a king, he would ensure justice to all.”

This quickly became the rallying cry of the people. They didn’t bring Samuel’s sons’ behavior to his attention, but they would bring their cry for a king to him. ALL the elders come together to make this happen. They have chosen a time when they knew Samuel would be at his home in Ramah.

The leader of the tribe of Judah had been tasked to speak for the people. He stepped forward and presented their issue.

“Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:5)

Samuel is so shocked by their words that you could knock him over with a feather. He never expected this would be their cry. He tries to change their minds.

“No, my brothers! This is not right. The Lord is our King. To do this would be to reject His leadership.”

“Give us a king!” they continued to shout.

After a few minutes, Samuel held up his hand for quiet. The people stopped chanting and waited to see what he would say. Samuel shook his head in defeat. “I will take your request to the Lord. Whatever HE says, I will do. I will hear no more of this today.” With that said, Samuel turned his back on the leaders, entered his house and shut the door behind him.

Weary beyond words, Samuel kneels in his customary spot on the dirt floor of his home. It is well worn and has taken on the imprint of his old knees, offering them a measure of comfort.

“Lord God, You have heard Your people’s cries. They are demanding a king. I know that YOU are the King and there is none like You. I don’t know what to say to them. How to remind them of this. How to turn them from this path. What would You have me do?”

God knows Samuel’s heart. He sees that it is breaking with the weight of this. He also knows the people’s hearts. He KNEW this day would come. It’s time to give them what they have asked for, and to let the cost be on their heads. God speaks to Samuel.

“Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7-9)

Samuel sends word to the leaders that he has an answer from the Lord for them. They quickly assemble before Samuel’s home and wait for his reply.

“The Lord has told me to do as you have asked, BUT He wants you to know the cost of this decision. After fully hearing the cost, YOU will be responsible for making a final decision.” Samuel looks around at those gathered before him. They are all nodding in agreement.

“These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. ¹⁷ He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” (1 Samuel 11-18)

Samuel looks over the men again. “This is a steep price to pay for a king. Remain under the umbrella of the Lord. Let Him be our king” he pleads.

The people are having no part of it. “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.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20)

Samuel shakes his head once again. There is not talking these people out of their chosen course of action. “Wait here while I consult the Lord once more.”

Samuel hurried to his place again and poured out his heart. “Lord, you heard their cries! I am unable to change their minds.”

“Obey their voice and make them a king.” (1 Samuel 8:22a)

Samuel rose from his place and made his way back outside. “Go every man to his city.” (1 Samuel 8:22b)

The leaders look at one another. They are not certain the answer they just received. Samuel did not say if he would or wouldn’t give them a king. He did share the Lord’s words regarding the price of having a king. Maybe the Lord was saying He would give them a king. Together, they resolved to Let the Lord have his work in this. They would wait.

Life continued on, just as it had been for another two months. No one made demands of Samuel for a king. They had agreed amongst themselves to wait.

An event played out in Israel that was no different than events that happen every other day. This one would have a decidedly different ending though.

Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, was a very wealthy man. One day, his donkeys broke free and became lost. He called on his son, Saul, to find them and bring them home. Saul was a dutiful son. Taking a servant along with himself, he went in search of his father’s donkeys.

Saul was no ordinary young man. He stood out in any crowd. He was head and shoulders taller than anyone else, and was one of, if not the, most handsome men in all of Israel. He was not arrogant about his looks or his position. He accepted advice and direction, even from his own servants. And he was diligent in all his work.

The search for the donkeys took these two men all over the place! Up one hill and down another. They crossed borders and boundaries between the territories of Israel, questioned anyone they came across, and kept the search going for days without any sign of the donkeys.

While Saul is out searching for his father’s donkeys, Samuel is having an encounter with the Lord.

“Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” (1 Samuel 9:16)

After days of looking, Saul is discouraged. He is also beginning to be worried about his father. “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” (1 Samuel 9:5)

The servant recognizes that this might be a problem too, but he has one more idea he wants to try. “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” (1 Samuel 9:6)

Though not against the idea, Saul had some concerns. “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” (1 Samuel 9:7)

His servant recognized that this would be a problem, but he had a little money with him and hoped it would be enough. “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” (1 Samuel 9:8)

“That’s great! Let’s go see him” replied Saul.

The two men made their way up the hill towards the city. On the way, they met a group of young women who were coming out to draw water.

“Is the seer here, in the city” asked Saul.

“He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately” (1 Samuel 9:12-12) one of the young women answered him.

Saul thanked the women and he and his servant hurried up the hill. As soon as they entered the city the saw Samuel walking towards the entrance of the city.

When Samuel laid eyes on Saul, the Lord immediately spoke to him in his spirit. “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” (1 Samuel 9:17)

Saul and his servant had never met the seer before. They had no idea that this was the man they would address. He just happened to be someone they could ask directions of. Saul approached Samuel and said; “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” (1 Samuel 9:18)

Samuel smiled. This young man was about to get the surprise of his life!

“I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?” (1 Samuel 9:19-20)

Saul was confused. This man knew their mission, but his words of honor did not fit him. “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” (1 Samuel 9:21)

Samuel smiled again. He saw the humility in this man. “Maybe that is why the Lord chose him” he thinks. Whatever the reason, the Lord’s choice would not be denied; even if the young man didn’t feel worthy.

“Come” Samuel said to the two of them. The three of them walked up to the high place together. Saul and his servant kept looking at one another with confused looks, but they would not say a word against the seer. He was the Lord’s representative.

When they reached the banquet hall, Samuel took Saul and his servant to seats of honor. As he placed them before all the others in the room, they began to look around. They received a few strange looks and they both felt unworthy and conspicuous in their places.

Samuel, who had spoken to the cook earlier that day, stepped over to her again. “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” (1 Samuel 9:23)

The cook bowed her head and went into the kitchen and retrieved a large leg, covered in expertly seasoned meat and placed it before Saul. Saul’s eyes grew three sizes and his mouth watered. He looked up and Samuel and Samuel nodded to him.

“See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.” (1 Samuel 9:24)

Saul tore a small piece off and put it in his mouth. It was exquisite! He could eat every inch of it, as he was hungry from his search for the donkeys, but he waited patiently until everyone else was seated and served.

Once everyone else was ready to eat, Samuel gave a blessing. “Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, we praise You for the bounty You have brought on our land. For the feast that You have allowed and called us to where we may honor You. With all that we have, and in all that we do, may we always bring glory to You.”

The banquet was boisterous and loud. The men invited talked of the happenings of the days and their lives. Saul and his servant had little to add to the conversation, other than answering whatever questions were directed at them. Saul shared his portion of meat with his servant, as it was more than he could consume alone.

As enjoyable as it all was, Saul was glad when the banquet was over. He no longer felt like he was on display for everyone to see. He gratefully accepted the bed Samuel had already prepared for him on the roof of his house. As Saul and his servant settled down for the night, they discussed what had happened.

“What did you think of tonight” asked Saul.

“It was amazing! The food. The wine. The company. Even the seating!”

“A little too amazing for me” replied Saul. “I was afraid I was going to make a fool of myself in front of everyone. Spill my drink, or choke on my meat.”

“You worry too much. The seer is the one who gave you the place of honor. He wouldn’t have done that without a reason. I’m sure he will tell you what it is tomorrow.”

“I hope so. I hope he doesn’t make me go through that again!”

The servant laughed. Saul gave him a friendly shove on the shoulder. Then they both settled down to sleep.

Saul and his servant are up with first light. They carefully roll the beds that had been prepared for them and bring them down as they descend. Samuel is already up and preparing a meal for the morning.

“Where would you like us to put these” Saul asks.

Samuel points to an out of the way shelf. “Tuck them in there” he says.

Samuel sets the table for three and motions them to join him. Saul and his servant sit down as directed. Saul is still overwhelmed by all that happened the day before, but is too afraid to say anything about it.

“Did you sleep well” Samuel asks.

“We did. Thank you for your hospitality” Saul says for both of them.

Samuel laughs. “If it was ‘true hospitality’ you would have to remain with me for two more days.” At the look in Saul’s eyes, Samuel breaks out in a deep laugh. “You will be on your way this morning my young friends.”

Saul takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. He likes the seer but is not wholly comfortable in his presence. He feels like there is something he is not telling him. And his treatment yesterday still puzzles him.

After the meal is completed, Samuel leads them from the house. Saul had offered to help clean up but Samuel refused. “It will be fine. I can tell that you want to be on your way.”

When the three of them neared the gate, Samuel pulled Saul off to the side. “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.” (1 Samuel 9:27)

Saul stepped over to his servant. “You go on ahead. I will join you in a while. I need a moment with the seer before I leave.”

The servant didn’t argue. He had a feeling that the seer had more to share with Saul. He waved goodbye and set off for home.

After the servant was out of sight, Saul turned to Samuel. Samuel reached beneath the folds of his belt and pulled out a flask of oil. He uncorked it and started to reach for Saul’s head. Realizing the height difference, Samuel led Saul to a rock. “Sit here please” he instructed.

Saul sat down as directed. Samuel then poured the oil over Saul’s head and kissed him.

This in itself was an immense honor and Saul soaked it in; not really knowing why this had been done to him. Then Samuel took Saul’s hands spoke the words of the Lord.

“Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” (1 Samuel 10:1-8)

Saul was in awe of Samuel’s words. He didn’t know what to say. As Samuel pulled him to his feet, Saul rose without a word. Samuel held out his arm in the direction of the city gate as an indication for Saul to begin his journey. As soon as Saul turned his back on Samuel and headed towards the gate, excitement and expectation bubbled up into his heart.

Saul set out on his journey for home. He turned Samuel’s words over and over in his mind. Replaying them like a treasure map. He quickly caught up with his servant, as his legs were longer than most.

“What did the seer want to talk to you about” asked the servant.

“I’m not ready to talk about it right now. Let’s leave it for a while.”

The servant, never one to push, shrugged his shoulders and let the matter drop. They talked of mundane things instead.

When they reached the tomb of Rachel, Saul saw two men standing beside it talking between themselves. Excitement bubbled up within Saul as he drew nearer the men. He had decided that he would say nothing in greeting to get these men’s attention. It was up to the Lord to fulfill Samuel’s words. As a servant, Saul’s companion followed his lead.

The men heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Saul and his servant walking towards them on the road. The two of them hurried to meet up with Saul and they began speaking. “The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, ‘What shall I do about my son?’”

Saul’s heart was beating like a bird! He didn’t know either of these men, but they knew him and his search. They had said the exact words that Samuel told him they would.

“Thank you. We are on our way home to my Abba now. I will be sure to convey news of your help to him when I see him again.”

The two men bowed their heads slightly in acknowledgment and went back about their own business. Saul and his servant continued on their journey. Saul glanced back over his shoulder a couple of times until the two men were beyond their sight.

“What is it? Are you expecting trouble” his servant asked when Saul glanced back the last time.

“No. Just something the seer said.”

“Are you ready to tell me about it yet?”

“No. Maybe a little later.”

After a while, Saul spied the oak of Tabor ahead of them. He didn’t see anyone standing there. He was a little disappointed. He was expecting to see Samuel’s next prophecy come true. As they neared the oak, three men came from another road and met up with them. One was carrying three goats, one was carrying three loaves of bread, and one was carrying a wineskin. Just as Samuel said they would be.

Excitement was building by the moment in Saul’s heart. He had to firmly hold his tongue. He wanted, again, to see if the Lord would fulfill the words spoken by Samuel.

“Shalom young men” called out the man carrying the wineskin. “Where are you going and were have you come from?”

“We are going home to Gibeah to my Abba’s house. We have come from Ramah.”

“That is a long journey. You have no bag with you for food.”

“No. I used what I had on the journey there. I had none left to bring with me as I returned.”

“Here. Take these” said the man carrying the three loaves of bread. He pushed two of his loaves into Saul’s hands.

Saul looked at the loaves in his hands and wanted to shout for joy as the second of Samuel’s prophecies had just come to pass. Instead, he bowed his head politely and thanked the men. “This will see us safely on our journey. May the Lord bless you for your generosity.” Saul passed one of the loaves to his servant and then everyone went on their own way.

Saul and his servant were both grateful for the bread as they continued on their journey. It had taken them three days to reach Ramah. Granted, they had spent time searching far from the straight path they were now taking home, but it still took them more than day for this journey.

After a good night’s rest under their cloak, they were nearing the place of Samuel’s final prophecy; Gibeath-elohim. This portion of the prophecy scared Saul a little. He didn’t know what to expect when the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him and he prophesied and became a different man. He would have to trust the Lord, as he had done the last two times.

As the two of them passed the gates of Gibeath-elohim and came closer to the city of Gibeah, the prophets of Samuel’s prophecy were coming down from the high place between these two landmarks. They were making beautiful music with their instruments and prophesying as they went. In an instant, the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon Saul and he began prophesying too. His servant stood there watching, with his eyes going wide and his mouth hanging open.

This was Saul’s home town and the people here knew him well. They were all astonished to see him prophesying. They began asking one another; “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 10:11)

When Saul finally stopped prophesying, his servant rushed over to him. “Saul…”

“Later, please. I need time to think.”

The two of them walked up to the high place; the same one that the prophets had just come from. Waiting there at the high place was Saul’s uncle. He had watched all that transpired. He approached Saul and started questioning him.

“Where did you go?” (1 Samuel 10:14a) Saul’s uncle asked him.

“To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” (1 Samuel 10:14b)

With eyes filled with curiosity and trying to put the pieces together with what he had just witnessed, Saul’s uncle pressed him for details. “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” (1 Samuel 10:15)

“He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found” (1 Samuel 10:16) Saul said with a shrug.

Saul said no more, so his uncle dropped the matter. Saul’s servant though had MANY more questions he wanted to ask. But he held them, and would continue to hold them until Saul was ready to talk.

(to be continued)

Once in my life, I have seen what I considered to be a prophecy come to pass. It was given to me in a dream and the next day, when it played out in front of me, I knew exactly what to do. It had to do with my parents. They would often have verbal fights, but this time, my mother threatened to leave. In my dream, I packed my flute and told her I would go with her. When I heard the exact words from my dream, I did exactly as I had done in my dream.

I came to my mom and told her that I would go with her. That day, she promised never to leave my father. I didn’t remember the promise, but she did. It became an unshakable bond that she would not break.

MANY years later, my mom called me on the phone and asked if I would release her from her promise. I didn’t know what promise she was talking about. When she told me of the promise, I gave her my permission to do what she felt was right. It took a while, and GOD’S hand to restore my parent’s marriage. They never did divorce or even fully separate. I wonder now if the promise my mom made to me that day helped or hurt. Did she feel like she had no way out? Did she stay only because of that promise? Did she hold fast to the promise for her own reasons? Or was it the ‘glue’ God had put in place until they were ready for true healing?

Father God, thank You for my family! Thank You for giving me a nudge that day. Thank You that You are faithful to fulfill EVERYTHING You say. Not just for Saul, but for ALL of us. For the promises yet to be fulfilled and the ones that give us faith because of what we have already seen fulfilled. I have NO DOUBT that what You have said will be, WILL BE. Good and bad. I know that You will be holding my hand through whatever comes; because You SAID You would. And that’s all I need to know!