On his way to find Samuel, Saul and his servant met some girls and asked them for information about Samuel. They went on up to the town and when they got there who was coming towards them? Samuel. What Saul didn't know was that God had told Samuel all about him and what he wanted him to do. Saul didn't know what Samuel looked like so he went up to him and asked him where he could find Samuel. Samuel told him that he was the seer and to go ahead of him and wait for him, and also that the donkeys were safe too. Saul was surprised as he realized that he was recieving special treatment from Samuel. Samuel took Saul into his home and fed him a special piece of meat he had his cook set aside. They had a long talk on the roof and the next morning Samuel gave Saul a message from God. Samuel anointed Saul with oil, to be leader. Saul, a Benjamite was to meet two men near Rachel's tomb (the mother of Benjamin, his ancestor) and they would tell him where to find the donkeys. He would continue his journey and find three men, one with 3 goats, one with 3 loaves of bread, and one with a wineskin. They would offer him 2 loaves of bread which he would accept. Then he would meet a procession of prophets and prophesy to them becuase the Holy Spirit would come over him so powerfully that he would be changed into a different person. He was to wait 7 days for Samuel to come to tell him what to do. Everything was fulfilled that day because God changed Saul's heart.
Saul's uncle was wondering where they had been. Saul told him the donkeys had been found, but he didn't tell him about the experience with Samuel. Samuel summoned all the Israelites to appoint Saul as king. He told them that the tribe of Benjamin had been chosen. Clan by clan they came forward, finally Saul was chosen. But he was nowhere to be found. They asked the Lord if the man was there and the Lord answered he was hidden with the baggage. So they brought out Saul who stood a head taller than everyone there. Samuel asked them if they could see someone unlike anyone else there and they said "Long live the king!" Samuel explained the rules of the king and wrote them down and left them there with the people. Then the people went home.
The Ammonites attacked the Israelites. The men of the town could not defeat them and they asked for terms of surrender. The terms were that they could pay for their lives by having their right eye gouged out. The elders of the town asked for 7 days to send messengers to all Israel to ask for help. The messengers came to the town where Saul was and the news made people sad. When Saul came in from the fields and saw what was going on he asked what was the matter. So they told him. Saul was filled with God's Spirit and cut up two oxen and sent their parts all over Israel, saying this is what happens to those who don't follow Saul and Samuel. This terrified everyone and they cmae out to fight as if they were one man. Saul and his men saved the people from the Ammonites. They confirmed Saul as their king.
Samuel delivered his farewell address to the people. They had been stubborn and insisted on a king in spite of Samuel's dire warnings about how that was a bad idea, because their king is God. Samuel told the history of the Israelites and how they had been wicked and after saying they were sorry people had come from God to save them. He told them that no matter who was in charge, if they didn't follow God's commandments nothing and no one could save them. Then, to show them the power of God, he told them that because they wanted a king instead of God, He would ruin their wheat, which was ready for harvest. Samuel prayed and He sent thunder and rain and all stood in awe of the Lord and Samuel.
Tomorrow read 1Samuel 12:19-14:42
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