The first seven chapters of 1 Samuel, we learn the story of Samuel himself. In the next 6 chapters, we learn of the first King of Israel, Saul. 1 Samuel 8 shows Israel demanding a king to rule them.
Subscribe to BBC on Apple, Spotify , or Amazon.
Chapters 1 – 7 of this book were about Samuel’s story. In Chapters 8 – 14 we will discuss Saul’s story as the first King of Israel. But before we zoom in on Saul, let’s pull out and review where we have been in the history of Israel.
The nation of Israel began as a patriarchal family. First, Abraham was the leader, then Isaac, then Jacob. The family grew so large that it was divided into 12 tribes. The 12 sons of Jacob each tribe with a leader, but they were all still very much related and worked together. It helped that for most of this time, they were traveling around the wilderness together. The family that camps together stays together. But the tribes grew large over time.
Then, in the book of Joshua, they spread out and settled in the Promised Land, where they grew apart. By the time we got to the Book of Judges, they had started fighting with each other. And during that story in the book of Judges, over and over, we heard the phrase, “In those days Israel had no king, everyone did as they saw fit.” The people had a priesthood; in their minds, what they didn’t have was a ruler—a king like all the other nations.
The fact was, they did have a ruler—a king greater than all the other kings and false gods on earth. They had the king of kings, the invisible God. And they were rejecting him in their desire for a human ruler. So begins the search for Israel’s first King–Saul.
Scene 1: Israel Demands a King
In Scene 2: Saul Chases Donkeys, Israel Chases a King
Scene 3: Samuel Makes the Call to a Disconcerted Saul
Scene 4: Israel Finally Gets a King
Verses Mentioned:
Show Notes:
Bible Timeline
