Early in his career, Saul made a fatal mistake. God also gave instructions that the king is to write out a copy of the law from the Levitical priests and read it all his days so that he may fear Yahweh and keep His commandments and thus continue long in his kingdom (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). Saul, Israel’s first king, did in fact lead them in victory over Nahash (1 Samuel 11). Israel had reason to be concerned over Samuel as judge because of his appointment of his rebellious sons as leaders in Israel. Israel wanted to be “like everyone else”—like their Gentile neighbors who had kings. Let us examine these instructions regarding kings: When you come to the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, “I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,” you may indeed set a king over you whom Yahweh your God will choose. Yet, it’s clear from the biblical narrative that God originally wanted Israel to be an exception to this. Despite God’s warnings, they were adamant — enough with this judge stuff; give us a king! Israel was "getting dirty" by depending on a man more than God. And Israel wanted a king to fight their battles, despite the fact that Yahweh fought their battles for them. The first page is the activity board. Saul, as God's anointed king, was responsible for keeping that command. WHY DID KING SAUL DIE? His sons “did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. When did God decide to remove Saul, Israel's first king, and raise up David in his place? a) Each tribe, separately, did not have its own king. But Israel lacked patience. All contributed content represents the views of the contributor and does not necessarily represent the views of KnowingScripture.com. God required that the king be an Israelite. God planned for that evil. Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. That means He is in control of all things. So, God gave Israel exactly what she wanted. Ezekiel 37:22-25 indicates that Israel in that future day will have one king over them and will be a people of God. Because they had already turned away from Him. When Saul sinned by making a sacrifice to God that wasn't his to make: Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. When Israel sought a king, as God said they would, to be like the other nations, they did a great evil. Yet his heart was not right with God. If you are surrounded by dirty people, is it worth getting dirty just to fit in? And it was clear that this was not God’s perfect plan for Israel: for king Saul came not from the tribe of Judah, but from Benjamin. First Samuel 8 marks a significant transition in Israel’s history. The Bible teaches that God, who reigns over all the earth (Psalm 47), is also in a special sense the king of the people of Israel. He would require a “tenth” (or “tithe”) of their goods, thus setting himself up as equal to God (1 Samuel 8:15, 17). Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Yet like Samuel, He was rejected by His people, even to the point of crucifixion. He was their leader. The people “refused to obey the voice of Samuel” and said, “No! They took bribes and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:3). But Israel was not happy with what God gave them at that time, and demanded a king before the time of the Lord’s plan. Just as God could rule His people through a prophet, He could rule his people through a king. Israel’s monarchy makes it even clearer that Israel needed Yahweh as king. God chose the Israelites (the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) for a special purpose. Solomon appointed "twelve governors over all Israel" (I Kings 4:7). 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