The Beginning of the Kingdom
For Meditation
Last week we witnessed the clamor among the people of Israel as they demanded a king in order to be like the nations. Despite God’s warning that a king would result in endless “taking” and eventual slavery, the people persisted in their demand. Here in chapter 10, we see that God concedes to the wishes of the people and proceeds with the anointing of a king, a young man from the tribe of Benjamin named Saul.
This whole section is frought with seeming contradictions. God is grieved at the people’s demand for a king yet proceeds in choosing a king for them. The people are stubborn in their rebellious actions yet God’s action seems intertwined in their willful designs. The people seem to be relishing in their vision of self-sovereignty, and yet God is clearly the one who is sovereign over their proceedings. In the words of Karl Barth, "Even in accepting Israel’s plan God can master it.”
This story of the monarchy tells us a lot about human rebellion, but it also speaks greatly about the character and person of God. This Sunday we’ll dig into what this monarchy story shows us about God, not only his powerful sovereignty over human affairs but also his humility in condescending to human plans. We’ll learn ultimately about God’s love, and how even the darkest parts of our stories can be enveloped in God’s loving design and purposes for our lives and the world.
1 Samuel 10:17-27
17 Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah 18 and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ 19 But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”
20 When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”
And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”
23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 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!”
25 Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.
26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.