Apr 11, 2024 / Bible Study / 0 COMMENTS

Today’s Scripture
“The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name” (1 Samuel 12:22).

 

 
The period of the Judges ends when Saul becomes king of Israel. At God’s direction, Samuel anoints Saul with oil and leads a victorious attack against the King of the Ammonites, who have been oppressing the Israelites east of the Jordan in a horrific and terrifying way! From a military perspective, this seals his claim to the throne and the people rally behind him.

 
Surely Saul was God’s choice as king, yet why He made this choice is not obvious at the outset. Saul embodied the qualities Israel valued most in a person. Yet, those were not the same qualities God valued. Why was it wrong to ask for a king? One of many reasons, it set the stage for reliance on things other than God Himself. In what areas of your life are you looking for a new king, something to replace God as Lord?