“Only fear the LORD and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” – I Samuel 12:24
Israel has demanded a king. Faithful prophet Samuel tried to dissuade them, but they insisted. They wanted to be like the other nations, with a king to go out before them into battle. Samuel had pleaded with them that God was their king and that to have a human on the throne would come with many problems. Still they were adamant.
So God had granted their wish. Samuel was grieved, but he assured them that God would not abandon them; he himself would continue to pray for them and teach them the right way. Now he pleads with the nation again to fear and serve the only true God. He adds, “…consider what great things He has done for you.”
Indeed, there are many reasons to serve God.
What great things has He done for you?
Let them remind you to give your all to Him.
Saul Publicly Chosen King
17 Thereafter Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah; 18 and he said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 19 But you have today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, ‘No, but set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.”
20 Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” So the Lord said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.” 23 So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book and placed it before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house. 26 Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But certain worthless men said, “How can this one deliver us?” And they despised him and did not bring him any present. But he kept silent.
1 Samuel 10
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