𝟭 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝟴–𝟭𝟬
Welcome to Part 4 of our 1 Samuel study! If you missed Parts 1, 2, or 3, you can find them here on our website.
Today, we’ll explore Israel’s demand for a king, the anointing of Saul, and God’s providence in leading His people, even when they stray.
𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺, 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 1 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 8 - 10
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟴: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴
In this chapter, Israel rejects God as their king and demands a human ruler to lead them “like all the nations.”
• 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹’𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Samuel lays out the consequences of having a king, including taxes, forced labor, and the loss of personal freedoms. Despite the warnings, the people insist.
• 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲: God allows the people to have their way but makes it clear this decision is not without consequences.
When the Israelites demanded a king, it’s like a child asking for candy instead of dinner: “It looks so good, and everyone else has it!” God, in His wisdom, lets them experience the reality of their choices—proof that even divine patience has its teachable moments.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
1. Can you think of a time when you wanted something so badly, only to realize later it wasn’t what you truly needed?
2. How can we trust God’s plan, even when it’s different from what we think we want?
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟵: 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴
God directs Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king. This chapter emphasizes God’s providence in leading Saul to Samuel, even through something as ordinary as searching for lost donkeys.
• 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹’𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Saul is described as handsome and tall, but he comes from the smallest tribe (Benjamin) and initially seems reluctant to embrace leadership.
• 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱: Despite Israel’s misguided request for a king, God remains in control. His guidance is evident in the way He orchestrates Saul’s journey to Samuel.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
1. How does Saul’s humble beginning remind us that God can use anyone for His purposes?
2. Are there “ordinary” events in your life that might actually be God directing your steps?
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬: 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹’𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
This chapter marks the official beginning of Saul’s kingship. Samuel anoints Saul privately and gives him signs to confirm God’s choice. Later, Saul is publicly chosen by lot in front of the people.
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗨𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹: One of the signs Samuel gives Saul is that he will prophesy, which happens when the Spirit of God comes upon him. This moment highlights how God equips those He calls.
• 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Even after being chosen, Saul hides among the baggage when it’s time to present him to the people. This reveals his fear and hesitation, a theme that will resurface throughout his reign.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
1. Saul hid when he was chosen—how do we sometimes “hide” from God’s calling in our lives?
2. How does God equip us for the tasks He assigns, just as He equipped Saul?
𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝟴–𝟭𝟬
𝟭. 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: God allowed Israel to have a king, even though it wasn’t His ideal plan. This reminds us that our choices matter, but they come with consequences.
𝟮. 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Even when Israel made a poor decision, God worked through it to guide and care for His people.
𝟯. 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱: Saul’s anointing and transformation by the Spirit show that God equips those He calls, even when they feel inadequate.
𝟰. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴: Saul’s journey reminds us that God’s plans often unfold in ways we least expect.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸:
Think about areas in your life where you may be “hiding” from God’s call or relying on your own understanding instead of trusting His plan. Take a step of faith this week to surrender those areas to Him.
