Israel Wants A King

1 SAMUEL 8-13

            Samuel was a judge of Israel for many years.  When he grew old, he made his sons judges.  But his sons were wicked and dishonest.  The elders of Israel came to Samuel and said, “You are getting old.  We want you to give us a king, so we can be like other nations.”

            Samuel was displeased.  “A king will take taxes from your wages,” Samuel told the people.  “Your sons will serve in his army and your daughters in his court.  One day you will call out to the Lord, asking him for help, but he will not answer you, because you have been disobedient.”

            “We don’t care! We want a king!” the people cried. They no longer trusted the Lord to be their king.

            One day a tall and handsome young man named Saul set out from his home with a servant to look for his father’s donkeys that had wandered away.  They traveled a long way but did not find the lost donkeys.  The servant said, “The prophet Samuel lives nearby.  Maybe he can help us.”

            When Samuel saw Saul walking toward him, the Lord said to Samuel, “This is the man whom I will make king over Israel.”  Samuel invited Saul to be his honored guest at dinner and spend the night at his house.  They talked a long time.

            The next morning Samuel told Saul, “I have a message for you from the Lord.  He wants you to be king over his people.”  And Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head to show he was chosen by God.

            “By the way, the lost donkeys have been found.  Now go back, because your father is worried about you.” Samuel said that in seven days he would find Saul and tell him what to do.

            Samuel then told all the leaders of Israel, “You wanted a king, so God has chosen Saul, the son of Kish, to be your ruler.”

            “Where is he?” the people asked, for Saul was nowhere to be found.  Saul was among the baggage.  They pulled him out and the people shouted, “Long live the king!” So Saul became king over Israel.

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(From Classic Bible Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard Publishing.  Used by permission.  This book may be purchased at your local Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).