Study Desk

But the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, "No, we want a king to rule over us.

Saul went to look for the donkeys. He walked through the hills of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha. But Saul and the servant could not find Kish's donkeys. So they went to the area around Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there either. Then Saul traveled through the land of Benjamin, but he and the servant still could not find the donkeys.

But the servant answered, "A man of God is in this town. People respect him. Everything he says comes true, so let's go into town. Maybe the man of God will tell us where we should go next."

Saul said to his servant, "Sure, we can go into town, but what can we give to him? We have no gift to give the man of God. Even the food in our bags is gone. What can we give him?"

Saul answered, "But I am a member of the tribe of Benjamin. It is the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family is the smallest in the tribe of Benjamin. Why do you say Israel wants me?"

"Go to Gilgal before me. Then I will come there to you. And I will offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. But you must wait seven days. Then I will come and tell you what to do."

But today you have rejected your God. Your God saves you from all your troubles and problems. But you said, ‘No, we want a king to rule us.' Now come, stand before the Lord in your family groups and tribes."

Samuel told each family in the tribe of Benjamin to pass by. Matri's family was chosen. Then Samuel told each man in Matri's family to walk by. Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when the people looked for Saul, they could not find him.

But some troublemakers said, "How can this man save us?" They said bad things about Saul and refused to bring gifts to him. But Saul said nothing. King Nahash of the Ammonites had been hurting the tribes of Gad and Reuben. Nahash poked out the right eye of each of the men and did not allow anyone to help them. He poked out the right eye of every Israelite man living in the area east of the Jordan River. But 7000 Israelite men ran away from the Ammonites and came to Jabesh Gilead.

But he answered, "I will make a treaty with you people only if I can poke out the right eye of each person. Then all Israel will be ashamed."

But Saul said, "No, don't kill anyone today! The Lord saved Israel today."

Now you have a king to lead you. I am old and gray, but my sons are here with you. I have been your leader since I was young.

"But your ancestors forgot the Lord their God. So he let them become the slaves of Sisera, the commander of the army at Hazor. Then the Lord let them become the slaves of the Philistines and the king of Moab. They all fought against your ancestors.

But your ancestors cried to the Lord for help. They said, ‘We have sinned. We left the Lord , and we served the false gods Baal and Ashtoreth. But now save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.'

But then you saw King Nahash of the Ammonites coming to fight against you. You said, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us!' You said that, even though the Lord your God was already your king.

But if you don't listen to the Lord , if you refuse to do what the Lord says, he will be against you. The Lord will destroy you and your king.

Samuel answered, "Don't be afraid. It is true that you did all these bad things, but don't stop following the Lord . Serve the Lord with all your heart.

"But the Lord won't leave his people. No, the Lord was pleased to make you his own people. So for his own good name, he won't leave you.

But you must honor the Lord . You must serve him sincerely with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he has done for you.

But if you are stubborn and do evil, God will throw you and your king away, like dirt swept out with a broom."