Study Desk

As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all the signs came to pass that day.

When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied along with them.

and said to the Israelites, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'

But today you have rejected your God, who delivers you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, 'No, set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans."

Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and the men of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him.

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.

But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, 'No, we must have a king to rule over us'-even though the LORD your God was your king.

If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.

They pleaded with Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king."

"You have acted foolishly," Samuel declared. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.

Terror struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked and panic spread from God.

Then Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)

And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!" "Do whatever seems good to you," the troops replied. But the priest said, "We must consult God here."

So Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.

So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.

And Saul declared "May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!"

Saul answered, "The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction."

The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

"I have sinned," Saul replied. "Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God."