Saul

• Found: 1 Samuel 8 - 31

Saul Made King (1 Samuel 8-10)

The children of Israel wanted a king. They saw the people round about had kings and they wanted one for themselves. God wanted them to be different, but they insisted, and God relented. Samuel explained to the people that a king would cost them dearly, would take their young men for soldiers and servants, and would tax them of their riches, but the people said they were willing to pay this price.

God led Samuel to a man called Saul, son of Kish, a benjamite. Saul was a strong young man, and a good man, one whom the people would take to. Kish had lost his donkeys and sent Saul out to find them. They can't find the donkeys, and decide to go see the man of God in a nearby town to ask his advice. God had spoken to Samuel the day before that He would bring the man who was to be king, and spoke again when Saul arrived - this was the man.

Samuel anointed Saul and sent him on his way. He went, and the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophecied. The people wondered at this and asked if Saul was also a prophet. Meanwhile, Samuel called the people together to choose their king at Mizpeh. He had each of the tribes walk before him, and Benjamin was chosen. He had the families of Benjamin walk before him and the family of Matri was chosen. He had this family walk before him and Saul was chosen. He couldn't be found, though because he had hidden himself. When they found him they brought him forth and the people all shouted "God save the king" Saul started off well as a king. He listened to God's leading, he won great battles, but then he made a mistake:

Saul's Big Mistake (1 Samuel 13 v 8-14)

The Philistines were ready to fight Isreal, and the Israelites were afraid. Many were hiding away, but Saul and his army waited at Gilgal. They were waiting for Samuel to come and make a burnt offering to the Lord to bless their battle, but they waited and waited. After seven days, Saul decided to take maters into his own hands and made the offering himself. Immediately Samuel was spotted approaching. Saul went out to meet him. Samuel accused him of making the offering and Saul began to make excuses. Samuel said he had done wrong, and as punishment the kingdom would be taken from him and given to a man after God's own heart.

He Spares Agag (1 Samuel 15)

In chapter 15 Saul makes another mistake. Samuel told him the people of Amalek were to be slain. Every last one of them, and all their livestock were to be killed. Saul went out and defeated the Amalekites, but let their king, Agag, live, along with some of the sheep, and cows. The next day, Samuel came to Saul and saw with anger that he had disobeyed the Lord. He said again that the kingdom would be taken out of Saul's hands and given to another. He had Agag brought before him, and Samuel slew Agag with a sword, cutting him into pieces.

A Troubled King (1 Samuel 31)

Saul's wrongdoings had turned God against him. From this time on, God left him and an evil spirit troubled him. Instead of his son taking over, he would be replaced by a young man called David when he died. Saul brought David into his house not knowing this, but David's fame grew until he had to flee from Saul, and Saul spent much of the rest of his reign hunting down David.

One day Saul was fighting against the Philistines. The battle had not gone well, and Saul's sons were killed. He was wounded by an arrow, and rather than be taken and killed by the Philistines, he fell on his own sword and died.

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