Saul Becomes King Story - Bible

The people of Israel wanted a king. They looked at other nations around them. Those nations had kings who led them into battle. The Israelites came to Samuel, who was their judge and prophet. They said, 'You are old. Your sons do not follow your ways. So appoint a king to lead us. We want to be like all the other nations.'

Samuel was not happy when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us.' He prayed to the Lord. The Lord told him, 'Listen to everything the people say to you. It is not you they have rejected. They have rejected me as their king. They are doing to you what they have done to me from the day I brought them up out of Egypt. They have turned away from me and served other gods. Now listen to them. But warn them solemnly. Let them know what the king who will rule over them will do.'

Samuel told the people what the Lord had said. He said, 'This is what the king who will rule over you will do. He will take your sons. He will make them serve with his chariots and horses. They will run in front of his chariots. He will take your daughters. They will be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves. He will give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvests. He will give it to his officials and attendants. He will take your male and female servants. He will take the best of your cattle and donkeys. He will use them for his own work. He will take a tenth of your flocks. You yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you have chosen. But the Lord will not answer you in that day.'

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, 'No! We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations. Our king will lead us. He will go out before us and fight our battles.'

Samuel listened to everything the people said. He repeated it to the Lord. The Lord answered, 'Listen to them. Give them a king.'

Then Samuel sent the people away. He told them to go back to their own towns.

There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He had a son named Saul. Saul was a handsome young man. There was no one more handsome than he was. He was head and shoulders taller than anyone else in Israel.

Some donkeys belonging to Saul's father got lost. Kish said to his son Saul, 'Take one of the servants with you. Go and look for the donkeys.'

Saul and his servant went through the hill country of Ephraim. They went through the area of Shalisha. They went through the area of Shaalim. They went through the territory of Benjamin. But they could not find the donkeys.

When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, 'Come on. Let's go back. My father will stop thinking about the donkeys. He will start worrying about us.'

The servant replied, 'In this town there is a man of God. He is highly respected. Everything he says comes true. Let's go there now. Maybe he will tell us what way to take.'

Saul said, 'If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. There is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?'

The servant answered him, 'I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I'll give it to the man of God. He will tell us our way.'

Before they went up to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. They asked them, 'Is the seer here?' (The seer was what people called a prophet in those days.)

The women answered, 'He is. He is ahead of you. Hurry now. He has just come to our town today. The people are going to offer a sacrifice at the high place. As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes. He must bless the sacrifice first. After that, the guests will eat. Go up now. You should find him.'

They went up to the town. As they were entering it, there was Samuel. He was coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

The day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel. The Lord said, 'About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel. He will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people. Their cry has reached me.'

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, 'This is the man I spoke to you about. He will govern my people.'

Saul approached Samuel. He said, 'Please tell me where the seer's house is.'

Samuel answered, 'I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place. You will eat with me today. I will send you on your way tomorrow morning. I will tell you all that is in your heart. Don't worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago. They have been found. Who has all the desire of Israel turned to? Is it not turned to you and your whole family line?'

Saul answered, 'But I am from the tribe of Benjamin. It is the smallest tribe in Israel. My family group is the least important in the tribe of Benjamin. Why do you say such a thing to me?'

Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall. He seated them at the head of the guests. There were about thirty guests. Samuel said to the cook, 'Bring the piece of meat I gave you. It is the one I told you to set aside.' So the cook brought the thigh with what was on it. He set it in front of Saul.

Samuel said, 'Here is what has been kept for you. Eat it. It was set aside for you for this special occasion.' So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

After they came down from the high place, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. At dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the roof. He said, 'Get ready. I will send you on your way.' When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together.

As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, 'Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.' The servant did so. Then Samuel said, 'Stay here for a minute. I will tell you a message from God.'

Samuel took a flask of olive oil. He poured it on Saul's head. He kissed him and said, 'Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance? When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. Your father has stopped thinking about them. He is worried about you. He is asking, 'What shall I do about my son?'' Then you will go on from there. You will come to the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to Bethel to worship God will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats. Another will be carrying three loaves of bread. Another will be carrying a skin of wine. They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread. You will accept them from their hands.'

Samuel continued, 'After that, you will go to Gibeah of God. There is an Philistine outpost there. As you enter the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place. They will be playing lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps. They will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully on you. You will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do. God is with you.'

As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart. All these signs came true that day.

Samuel called the people together to meet with the Lord at Mizpah. He said, 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I saved you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that had oppressed you.' But you have now rejected your God. He saves you from all your disasters and crises. You have said, 'No! Appoint a king over us.' So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.'

Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near. The tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. Then he brought the clan of Matrite near, person by person. Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.

They asked the Lord, 'Has the man come here yet?' The Lord said, 'Yes. He has hidden himself among the supplies.'

They ran and brought him out. As Saul stood among the people, he was a head taller than anyone else. Samuel said to all the people, 'Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.'

Then the people shouted, 'Long live the king!'

Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of a king. He wrote them down on a scroll. He placed it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent the people away to their own homes.

Saul also went to his home in Gibeah. God changed the hearts of some brave men. They went with Saul. But some troublemakers said, 'How can this fellow save us?' They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.

The people got the king they wanted. But God was still their true King. He would work through Saul to lead and protect His people.

The Saul Becomes King story teaches leadership and obedience. It shows God’s choice in guiding leaders. This story highlights responsibility and faith.