Tag: Saul

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Kings and Prophets – The Real Superhero

Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man (Saul) the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people. Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent. 1 Samuel 10:24, 27     

It seems like every few months a new superhero finds its way into our culture. It used to be a Marvel movie or occasionally a DC hero that was the next blockbuster hit. However, with tons of streaming platforms, now we are being bombarded with superhero tv shows every time we sit down to watch something. As a culture, we are obsessed with the idea that an extraordinary human can save the day, can even save us.

The first king selected to rule over the people was not a very good one. God knows that all humans are sinful and flawed, so God wanted to rule over the people as King. Instead, the people requested a human king and they were given Saul. Some thought he’d be superhuman, that he would be able to save all Israel. But that is of course too much to ask of a human king. Some people immediately regretted their decision to ask for Saul to be king. “How can this fellow save us?” they asked each other. They realized that super-humans are really just fairytales.

More than 1000 years after the reign of King Saul, another guy named Saul will write a letter to a church in the town of Philippi. He will remind the church that there is still hope for God to be King, in the person of Jesus Christ. King Jesus will finally rescue God’s people, redeeming them from sin and death. God will give Jesus a name above all names so every knee should bow to Jesus, God on earth, as king and savior. Imagine Jesus on the throne of your heart as King and Savior. Allow him to rule in your life knowing that he is more powerful than any human being.

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Kings and Prophets – Living Like a Prophet

But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so, he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 1 Samuel 8:6-7

In the story of Scripture, Israel is first ruled by judges, then it is ruled by kings. The kings were not part of the original plan. God intended to rule over the people of Israel as the real King, not have some human on the throne. However, the people are insistent. They see all the countries around them that have a king, and they want to be like the people around them.

In today’s passage, it is a man named Samuel who prays to God on behalf of the people to ask for a King. Samuel is a prophet. Now, some people think prophets are people who predict the future, but in the Bible a prophet is simply someone who speaks to the people on God’s behalf. Samuel is dedicated to serving God, so he is frustrated that Israel asks for a King to rule them. God tells him not to take it personally. The people haven’t rejected Samuel. Although God has been nothing but faithful, the people have rejected God.

Kings are very powerful. In ancient times, Israel’s neighbors would have worshiped their kings as gods on earth. If Israel is already rejecting God as their king, they may be tempted to reject God as God. Throughout the reign of Israel’s Kings, God also raises up prophets in each generation to speak the truth to kings and citizens alike.

The life of a prophet is very difficult. They must be wise enough to listen to God and have the courage to speak out. Many prophets are rejected, imprisoned, and even killed for speaking the truth of God to people who don’t want to hear it. Prophets are not just something we find in the Bible. There are modern day prophets who have worked and suffered for God’s cause. We are all called to speak up for what is right. Ask God for the wisdom and courage to live like a prophet in the world today.