Title: Saul, the first king of Israel
Contents 1st 3rd 11: 14-15
Why did the Israelites ask God for a king? The first was that the prophet Samuel had grown old, and the other was that Samuel's two sons were unfit as prophets and leaders because they were at the forefront of promoting injustice and lawlessness. However, the truth is that the people of Israel rejected the kingdom ruled by God and had unbelief that they would create a country ruled by men. Although God was not pleased, he did not reject their strong request and allowed a king to be appointed. So Saul was the first king of Israel.
So who was Saul?
If you look at 1 Samuel 9:1,2, it tells how great a man was in his outward appearance. Not only that, but his character was also an outstanding person who had nothing to do with being a leader.
(1) He was a filial son who obeyed his father well.
He obeyed his father and went to search for the lost donkey, but he listened to the servant's words and went, so he met Samuel. This meeting was truly a precious encounter that changed his life. Here Saul was anointed and made king over Israel. It was the result of obeying his father that led him to meet Saul.
(2) Saul was a humble man who knew how to humble himself.
When Samuel asked to be king of Israel Am I not a Benjaminite, the least of the tribe of Israel, and my family is not the weakest among all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? (1 Samuel 9:21) A truly humble man It was.
(3) He was a person who received great blessings from God. (1 Samuel 10:9-10)
In 1 Samuel 10:6, Samuel said to Saul, “The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you greatly, and prophesy with them, and be changed into a new person.” And in verses 9 and 10, God gave Paul a new heart and It is recorded that God came upon Saul greatly, and he prophesied among them. As the first king of Israel, Saul gave the necessary personality and God's power to bear. He gave Saul the overflowing blessing of the Holy Spirit.
Saul was a man who met all the conditions as a leader. I was born into a good family, had good character, met good people, received God's blessing, and became the first king of Israel. However, the Bible records the life of King Saul as a tragic man as a failed king. It started off really well, but ended up being a disappointing failure.
For what?
It was because his humble and noble character before he became king was transformed into a king.
This is because, while gaining popularity, he did not fear God and tried to sit in God's place. In other words, because of his arrogance, he became the main character of his life, abandoned by God and the people.
There are so many of these people around us. There are people who are humble when they are poor and who no one knows when they are rich, suddenly become famous and end up being arrogant and ending miserably.
“As always” When I first met you, I am a sinner! Don't lose that humility. I must not forget the time when I was unable to die in despair.
Saul was a man of all good qualities, but he ended his life as a failure. This is not someone else's story; Before becoming king, when Saul announced that Samuel would be king, he confessed that he was the least of the tribe and the least, and he was also generous enough to forgive those who opposed him. But as he became king and gained popularity among the people, he turned into a proud man.
(Conclusion)
What will God say when He sees me?
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 that unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The humble are more blessed by God, exalted and exalted. But the proud humble themselves and forsake them.
He answered the prayer of a humble publican and did not answer the prayer of a proud Pharisee. Pride is the beginning of destruction, and a haughty heart is the beginning of a fall (Proverbs 16:18).