August 5 - HEROES: Saul

Saul is the last in our "Heroes" series. He became Israel's first King. Samuel had served many years as a judge and prophet, but his sons - though appointed to serve as judges - were inadequate to the task, being corrupt and greedy.

The people knew there would be one more leadership gap - so they asked Samuel to give them a king - like all the other nations had.

Samuel was disappointed, but the Lord consoled him, saying this was not a rejection of him. These were the Lord's words to Samuel:

1 SAMUEL 8:7-9. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”

Saul had the appearance of a strong leader...

1 SAMUEL 9:2. Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

...but he would up being a disappointment. In time of stress, he abandoned God's guidance and relied on his own inadequate plans and strategies.

1 SAMUEL 15:10-11. The Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night.

The Lord chose another leader - David - who would eventually take Saul's place.


The stories of Saul are found in a large section of the Scripture, beginning in chapter 9 of 1 Samuel, and continuing all the way through his death in chapter 31.


The account of God's actions raises some interesting questions that we touched on in the morning message on July 29.

Since Saul was God's choice, and yet his life became a failure, could this mean that God's activity is intertwined with our human response?

Could it be that God's plans are not "written in permanent marker," but instead leave open the door for our willingness to cooperate or our willful rejection?

Could it be that God has plans for your life that depend on a decision you need to make?


Actually, I take great comfort in the mighty action of God in this account. How wonderful it is to know that God chooses to get involved in our human mess.

If I had been God, I doubt whether I would have been quite so willing to give Israel what she wanted (a king, like all the other nations).

But though this request was a rejection of divine authority, God was willing to participate in this new form of leadership.

This is the message of the Incarnation - that God reached out to a messed-up world and became personally involved - by becoming one of us - in the flesh - in the person of Jesus.



Another interesting part of this story is the way that God continues to use prophets who speak truth to the powerful earthly institutions. Although God was at work in the royal line - Saul, David, Solomon, and all those kings which followed - he also raised up prophet who were unafraid to speak truth to power.

We must ALWAYS keep our earthly institutions - whatever they are - in their place - and we must ALWAYS keep our allegiance to the Lord in first place. He is our Lord, and he tolerates no rivals.

How does one remain a patriotic American and yet keep our allegiance to Christ's Kingdom in first place?


"Speaking Truth to Power" is a sermon prepared by a Baptist pastor in Virginia - focusing on the encounter between the prophet Nathan and the king David.


There are some fascinating details about the selection of Saul as king. The Bible recounts a public ceremony in which all of the tribes of Israel were brought before the Lord - and Samuel navigates the selection of the soon-to-be-king through a narrowing down process. But when Saul is determined to be the chosen one, he is nowhere to be found. Read this passage - 1 Samuel 1o:17-25 - to find out where Saul was when all of this was going on.

What did this story tell us about the selection of Saul as king?