1 Samuel 8:19-20
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 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.”
Israel is demanding a King. They want a king to do what God had done for them – faithfully and perfectly, I might add – up until this time. This was a HUGE slap in the face to God.
Why do we humans look to find an alternative to the perfect provision of God?
What has God been faithfully and perfectly providing that I continue to look for a natural source of – often under my own strength, power, intellect?
It is interesting the power of belonging – here Israel forfeits the blessings, protection, provision and safety fo God so that they could be “like all the other nations.”
1 Samuel 10:6-9
6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. 8 You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.”
9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.
God changed Saul. Why? It could easily be interpreted as spite, but I think not. Why did God change Saul into what He said he would become?
I wonder if God gave Saul the same heart the people had – to make Saul want to be like all the other Kings. He didn’t want to be a different King than what the people wanted because “they wanted to be like all the other nations.”
We see evidence in 1 Sam 13:7-14. The very next chapter! The first command God has given Saul as king, he disobeyed.
“As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. “
God very clearly told him to wait on Samuel, but “the people were scattered from him” and I think that took precedence over God’s command. Because Saul was king, his own word and thoughts and compulsions were now priority (v12) “… Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
Because of that heart (which I believe God gave him in Chapter 12) God already knew Saul would be replaced as King and would not be established in lineage down the royal line.
I encourage you to read the whole passage of 1 Samuel 12:8-25.
Here is the good news. God never turns us away. Even in our mistakes – even in our poor choices – even in our willful disobedience – God’s heart is for our best. See the words of Samuel (1 Sam 12:20-22) – “20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22 For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.”
Be encouraged today. God wants our best because it pleases Him to make us his people. THAT is good news!
Running After Papa…