Royal history begins with the book of Samuel. After 350 years the rule of the Judges ended. The next 500 years, kings ruled Israel.  Samuel was the last of the Judges while Saul was the first of the kings and he reigned for 25 years.

The book begins with the story of Samuel’s barren mother Hannah who promised God that if He would give her a son she would dedicate him to serve God.  God answered her prayer and Hannah was faithful to her promise. “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” Samuel was a man of prayer and he lived with the priest Eli.

As a young boy Samuel woke up to the voice of God calling him. “Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” (1 Sam 3:4) We each have a calling, a purpose, a way in which to serve God.  ^“The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.” ( 1 Sam 3:19)

Eli had ruled for forty years as both Judge and Priest.   Both of Eli’s sons acted disgracefully. As leaders, this resulted in Israel’s declining moral corruption. God warned Eli of the downfall of his house. “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”” ( 1 Sam 4:22)

When the nation of Israel asked for a king, Samuel prayed and God answered “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected as their king, but Me.”

The Philistines were a wealthy civilization who settled on the coastal plain. They were a maritime people of sea roving pirates with equipment that gave them great advantage in war.  The Philistines were subdued at Mizpah. “Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you….On that day they fasted and there they confessed, ‘We have sinned against the Lord.’  And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah.”  The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines and in a state of panic, the Israelites slaughtered them.

When Eli the Priest was 98 years old, the Philistines invaded Israel, the Ark of the Covenant was stolen and Eli’s sons were killed.  “When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.” (1 Sam 4:18)

The people cried out for a king to rule them. Since Samuel’s ear was tuned to the Lord, in obedience Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel. “When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.” (1 Sam 9:17)

Saul was handsome, tall and a noble warrior. He was humble at first, but then his pride flourished into disobedience.  Saul failed God by his impatience and his cruelty towards his son Jonathan,  his jealousy over David, and his appeal to a witch. (1 Sam 13-28)

Whenever king Saul failed, Samuel would warn him. God rebukes Saul and tells Samuel to anoint a REPLACEMENT king. (1 Sam 16:1) Samuel travels to visit David, Jesse’s son, the great grandson of Ruth and Boaz.

DAVID was born in Bethlehem, and he was the youngest of eight sons. Samuel ANOINTS David as the future king.  The young shepherd was pulled out of the field by God and David began SERVING king Saul as the HARPIST who helped soothe the king’s melancholy. After Saul failed to keep God’s law, God spoke to Samuel; “I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king” Do NOT consider his APPEARANCE or his height, for I have rejected him (one of Jesse’s other sons.) The Lord does NOT look at the THINGS people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16). King Saul promoted David to a high command in Israel’s army and his great success roused the insecure jealousy of the king. Saul made 5 attacks of David’s life. But with God’s ANOINTING, David was given WISDOM and PROTECTION. Gregory Peck as king David.

The events recorded in the first book of Samuel covers about 115 years.  It covers the story of the boy Samuel answering God “Here I am”.  David and Goliath (Chap 3). The friendship between David and king Saul’s son Jonathan is loyal. (Chap 18). Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel:  “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from Me and has not carried out My instructions.” (1 Sam 15:10) The closing chapter of first Samuel draws a picture of how empty a life is without God. King Saul’s desolation was due to his half-hearted obedience to God.

A victim of human pride and jealousy, the people’s choice for king commits suicide on a field of battle rather than be captured. (1 Sam 15)  Samuel’s judgeship ran from his home at Ramah to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah.  Samuel, a Prophet of the Lord oversaw and administered the affairs in his territory.   “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true.” (1 Sam 9:6)

1 Samuel 9 Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer. They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was SAMUEL, coming toward them on his way up to the high place. Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had REVEALED this to SAMUEL: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. ANOINT him ruler over MY people ISRAEL; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on MY people, for their cry has reached ME.” When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD SAID to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern MY people.” Saul was seeking the man of God. Samuel said “I am the SEER” Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.” 1 Samuel 10 “Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance? Saul was instructed by Samuel “go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you Saul approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you Saul, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” Saul was supernaturally transformed. “Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and Saul joined in their prophesying. When all those who had formerly known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Saul held the office of king, and all the machinery of governing the people was his. God in His sovereignty selected Saul and David. Saul was anointed by the Seer Samuel and Saul prophesied. 1 Samuel chapter 10. Later after David was anointed, David was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness. The cave of Adullam represents the answer to David’s spiritual need for protection. The cave became David’s headquarters. A band of weary soldiers of king Saul found refuge in the cave and David became their captain. David was rejected by Saul, just as the Lord Jesus was rejected by the rulers of Israel. Today, multitudes seek retreat, like weary soldiers, we crave direction and protection by God’s Way and we submit to the Spirit’s rule. We surrender our thinking to His. We seek refuge while we stand in opposition to man-made ways. We are His, and when we are rejected and persecuted, we share in His suffering. We are dear to He who rules us from His throne.