Study Desk

As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day.

When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy.

And he said, "This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you.

But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!' Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans."

When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.

But the people soon forgot about the Lord their God, so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor's army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.

"But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the Lord your God was already your king.

"Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord 's commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God.

"Pray to the Lord your God for us, or we will die!" they all said to Samuel. "For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king."

"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

Then Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let's destroy every last one of them." His men replied, "We'll do whatever you think is best." But the priest said, "Let's ask God first."

So Saul asked God, "Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?" But God made no reply that day.

Then Saul prayed, "O Lord , God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent." Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.

"Yes, Jonathan," Saul said, "you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this."

But the people broke in and said to Saul, "Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.

"It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else."

Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal."

Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the Lord your God."

Some of Saul's servants said to him, "A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.