Week 2: King Saul
Monday - 1 Samuel 8
Today we read 1 Samuel 8, and in this chapter, we are taken out of the era of the Judges and into the era of the Kings. The Israelites go to Samuel and demand from him a king. Samuel is, of course, not happy with this. On the one hand, if they want a king, so that means that God is NOT their king. God has been leading them since they came out of Egypt - and now they want a king "like the other nations?" On the other hand, he also probably felt rejected because he is the judge and they tell him "make us a king to judge us like all the nations." And this is why the Lord told him "they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me."
But Samuel despite his displeasure, turns to the Lord and prays. And the Lord tells him to heed the voice of the people. First, warn them about what it means to have a king, and what the bad behavior of the kings will be, and then if they still want a king, give them one.
The Lord, in his foreknowledge, had planned for this. If we open Deuteronomy 17, there's a section in the Law of Moses about kings and the principles governing kings. You can read it in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, but I'll summarize it here.
- "a king whom the Lord your God chooses"
- "one from among your brethren; not a foreigner"
- "not multiply horses or cause the people to return to Egypt"
- "not multiply wives for himself"
- "not multiply silver and gold for himself"
- He should write for himself a copy of the Law of Moses from the one before the priests and it shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes.
The role of the king was meant to be a spiritual leader of the people. If he walked in all of God's commandments and observed them, then the people would follow him. But if he didn't... if he introduced idol worship, or if he became distracted by many wars, or distracted by women or by money, then he would lead the people astray.
Unfortunately, most of the kings that will reign over Israel will fall short of these requirements. Some will be good - not perfect, but good - like King David. Some kings will start out bad and repent - like King Manasseh. Some kings will start out good and get worse - like King Saul, who we will read about in tomorrow's chapter.
Don't forget to read the Scripture. God bless you.
Tuesday - 1 Samuel 9
Today we read 1 Samuel 9!
This chapter describes the anointing of Saul as King of Israel. Saul was a Benjamite, described as the most handsome person among the children of Israel, and taller than all the people.
His father's donkeys were lost and so he went out to find them, and in going out to find them, he will find Samuel and Samuel will anoint him as king. The Lord uses the small events in our day-to-day to bring about His will in our life. St Basil says: "God uses every opportunity to call us to work. The donkeys were lost so that a king for Israel might be found." The little things in my life, I may not regard them - but when I start to see the will of God in my life, I will start to see these little events as being from God. When you see a Teta and she says "Inshallah" (God willing) and "Noshkor Rabena" (thank God) and "Rabena Yostor" (God forbid) for every little thing. It's because she is recognizing those small events - even if they seem bad (like the donkeys getting lost) - she recognizes that they are in God's hand.
One of the exercises that we can do is to accustom ourselves to this language - to putting every small event in God's hand. To attributing every goodness to God. How are you? I am doing well, thank God. Are you going to this event? God willing, yes. Did you hear about the accident? May God have mercy.
So the donkeys are lost, and after passing through several lands, he told his servant "let's go back lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us." And his servant said - let's go see the prophet first! So Saul asked how can we go empty handed? We need something to offer the prophet! They went and eventually found Samuel, and Samuel had known from the Lord that Saul would be the king. So Samuel speaks to him very honorably and reserves a seat for him and a choice portion of meat for him. So Saul asks - "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to my like this?"
Look at all of these good qualities of Saul! He was concerned for his father and didn't want him to worry. He was generous towards the man of God, wanting to offer him a gift. He was humble and recognized his insignificance among the rest of Israel. Saul started off really good. And we'll see that for the next few chapters. He is good - he attributes victory to God, he didn't go out to battle without Samuel, he led the people in the fear of God.
But it doesn't matter how you start, as much as how you end. Saul's end will not be good. He will stop attributing victory to the Lord. He will stop seeking the Lord's guidance. He will disobey God and God's commandments. The power gets to his head in pride. And he will die an ugly death.
If right now, I feel I am good - I go to church, I come to youth meeting, maybe I serve... maybe even I pray the Agpeya every day. But let me always be watchful for my salvation. Let me cultivate my PERSONAL relationship with God. Let me prepare for the day that my faith is doubted. Let me prepare for the day that I will endure a hardship or tribulation. Let me prepare for the day that I start to feel lazy. I ALWAYS need to be watchful because the devil is always working against me. And may the Lord fill us with His grace and wisdom.
My beloved, one of the important ways to be watchful is to read the Scripture every day and to meditate on it. I hope that you are all reading along according to our schedule.
God bless you