The
Israelites wanted Saul to be their king because he was a head taller than all
the others. They thought he would be a commanding person to head their nation
and army. God’s people were looking at the outward appearance and not the
heart! “For the Lord does not see as man
sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Saul was a Benjamite not from the tribe of Judah from
which God’s chosen king was to descend. (1
Samuel 9:1-2) David was from the tribe of Judah. Jesus, David’s descendant
in the flesh, would be the eternal fulfillment of God’s choice for King. Jesus
is King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
God’s Permissive Will
Saul was God’s
permissive will, not His sovereign will. The Israelites insisted they wanted
Saul as their king even after God had Samuel warn His people of what Saul would
do to them. Samuel was a Godly leader of God’s people. He was disappointed that
they were rejecting him for a king. He went to God with his feelings and God
told Samuel to give His people their choice of king. To comfort Samuel, God
said, “It is not you they have rejected,
but they have rejected Me as their King. As they have done from the day I
brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other
gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and
let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.” 1 Samuel 8:7-9 In
other words, the sin of the Israelites was against God not Samuel. Dishonoring
God is far worse than dishonoring a person!
What was God’s
warning that their choice of king would do?
·
He
would make their sons and daughters do hard work in his army, his house and on
his farms.
·
He
would take away their vineyards and olive orchards and give them to the king’s
favorites. Also a 10th part of the produce and what remained would
go to his officers and servants as well as a tenth of their flocks. And they
themselves would become his slaves.
·
They
would be so burdened that they “would
cry out to the Lord for relief from the king they had chosen, and the Lord will
not answer you in that day.” 1 Samuel 8:18
The people
refused again to listen to Samuel. So, the Lord told Samuel to give them a
king.
God knows our
end from our beginning. He knows both Saul and David’s hearts, as He knows
ours. God knew that Saul would not be a blessing to His people even though he
had some victories in battle. He will give the people their choice. Perhaps
they would learn some lessons by Him doing so. God also knew David’s heart. He
knew David’s love for Him, and that when David sinned against the Lord, he
would repent deeply and return to the Lord asking Him to “create a clean heart” within him. Although not a perfect human
being, David’s psalms illustrated his love and heart for God.
(to be continued)
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