1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–16,, The Lord Looketh on the Heart

So let's look at chapters eight through 10.

First, we've got the people of Israel demanding that they have a king so that they can be like all the nations.

They were previously separated and kind of governed themselves as unique nations.

And now they are uniting and they want a They had judges and prophets and military leaders, but the people have grown fearful and dissatisfied, especially as the sons of the prophet Samuel prove corrupt.

Samuel is grieved by their request for a king, and God tells them that the people are not rejecting Samuel personally.

They are rejecting God as their true king.

They want someone else in power that they can look to.

So God warns Israel that earthly kings are going to bring taxes and war and servitude and inequality.

And yet the people say, we want what we want.

And God says, all right.

And we've seen God do this before where he's like, okay, you want it? You got it.

You know, you be careful what you wish for.

We saw this when he delivered manna for them in the wilderness.

They're begging for bread and he says, you want bread? You got it.

And then they say, we hate the bread.

We want meat.

And he says, you sure? I'm going to send you a lot of quail.

Yeah.

So it's funny.

He gives them what they ask for, even though he tries to tell them, I don't know if this is the right way.

So God leads Samuel to Saul.

He is a tall and impressive man from the tribe of Benjamin.

And he appears humble and hesitant even.

But he has this history of military success.

So by all means, visual cues and accounts, he is a great, he's going to be a great leader.