Study Desk

Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home.

And Saul waited seven days for the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to desert Saul.

"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.

The charge was a pim for sharpening a plowshare or mattock, a third of a shekel for sharpening a pitchfork or an ax, and a third of a shekel for repointing an oxgoad.

So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!" "Follow me," Jonathan told his armor-bearer, "for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

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

Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies." So none of the troops tasted any food.

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die-he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God's help he has accomplished this today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, he would enlist him.

"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions." And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.

Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal."

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king."

"I will not return with you," Samuel replied. "For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel."

Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind."

Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites." Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."

And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted He had made Saul king over Israel.

Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself."

Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate."

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart."