March 27 Daily Devotional

1 Samuel 8–10

When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges over Israel, to help him take care of the people. But they did not walk in the ways of their father. When people brought matters before them to be decided, they would decide in favor of those that gave them money. Then the elders came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” Samuel was much displeased with this request of the people. God should be the ruler in Israel. He sent men to take care of his people. Now they were not satisfied with this arrangement. They wanted to be in style or “up to date.” They desired a king like the kings of other nations.

Samuel took the matter to the Lord, and he replied, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.” Samuel told the people the words of the Lord, and warned them carefully of the troubles that might be expected in case their wish would be granted. But they insisted, “We will have a king.”

Samuel looked up to God for his advice so he would do his will in this important matter. The Lord said to him, “Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel.” The next day Saul the son of Kish came in to get some information from Samuel. When Samuel saw Saul the Lord said to him. “This man shall reign over my people.” Samuel gave Saul the advice he was looking for and added, For whom is all that is; desirable in Israel? Is it not for thee? Saul replied, “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?” Samuel invited Saul to a festival meal where special honor was shown him. On the following day Samuel anointed Saul to be king of Israel.

Samuel called the people to Mizpeh. While they were gathered he said to them, “Ye have said unto him (God), Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.” So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken. And when the tribe of Benjamin was brought near, the family of Matri was taken. And when the family of Matri was brought near, Saul the son of Kish was taken. Everyone wished to see the man God had chosen, but Saul could not be found. He had hidden himself from the crowd. After a while he was found, and every one saw that God had chosen a handsome young man, who stood head and shoulders taller than any other man in the crowd. And the people shouted, “God save the king.”