Saul Annointed King, Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Today's reading in I Samuel 8-12 begins by telling of the corruption of Samuel's sons through their positions of power.  Their acceptance of bribes and perverted justice were used by the Israelites as an excuse for demanding a king.  In fact, by their own admission, they wanted to be like the countries around them.  Another case of "be careful what you ask for". 

God told Samuel that the people were not rejecting Samuel, but rather they were rejecting God as their king.  Samuel was instructed to give the people what they said they wanted, but to warn them what the king would require of them.

The annointing of Saul takes place in secret, with only Samuel and Saul present.  The announcement was made later at a gathering of the Israelites at Mizpah.