Conclusion of Saul-Israel's First King

As the years go by, Saul leads the Israelites to many victories over their enemies.  Saul also has a brave son named Jon'a-than. And Jon'a-than  helps Israel to win many battles.  The Phi-lis'tines are still the Israelites worst enemy.  One day thousands and thousands of Phi-lis'tines come to fight against the Israelites. 

Samuel tells Saul to wait until he comes and makes a sacrifice, or gift, to Jehovah. But Samuel is slow in coming. Saul is afraid that the Phi-lis'tines will start the battle, so he goes ahead and makes the sacrifice himself.  When Samuel  finally comes, he tells Saul that he has been disobedient.  'Jehovah will choose another person to be king over Israel,' Samuel says. 

Later Saul disobeys again.  So Samuel tells him:  'It is better to obey Jehovah than to make a gift to him of the best sheep.  Because you have not obeyed Jehovah, Jehovah will not keep you as king of Israel.'

We can learn a good lesson from this. It shows us how important it is to obey Jehovah  always.  Also, it shows that a good person, as Saul had been, can change and become bad. We never want to become bad do we?

1 Samuel chapters 9-11, 135-14; 14:47-52; 15:1-35; 2 Samuel 1:23. 

Next time: God Chooses David

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