Day 52 Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 10-14

1 Samuel 10: Saul, the First King of Israel 

[Summary]

This chapter records the event in which Saul was officially appointed as the first king of Israel by Samuel. After conveying God’s oracle, Samuel anointed Saul and established him as the king of Israel. He also told him three signs that would occur to him. This was to prove that God had approved Saul as king (vv. 1-8). As Samuel had prophesied, Saul was moved by the Spirit of God and became a prophet, and he returned home and did not tell anyone that he had been appointed as king (vv. 9-16). After that, Samuel gathered all the people and cast lots to officially approve Saul as king by all the people, and he was appointed as king (vv. 17-27).

[Explanation]

The text describes in detail the scene in which Saul became the king of Israel. In fact, appointing a king in Israel was against God’s will. However, when Israel continuously asked for a king, God established a king as they requested. Thus, the first monarchy system began in Israel. However, for Israel, this system was not a source of happiness, but rather the beginning of suffering and oppression.

1 Samuel 11: Saul's Victory over the Ammonites 

[Summary]

Saul became the king of Israel through formal procedures on the battlefield. However, there were still people who opposed Saul, and he was unable to establish a solid kingship. This chapter shows the scene where Saul finally strengthened his kingship through war. After Saul was appointed king, the Ammonites invaded Jabesh-Gilead (verses 1-5). Saul gathered an allied force of 330,000 men and defeated the Ammonites, achieving a complete victory (verses 6-11). The Israelites who defeated the Ammonites because of Saul wanted to kill those who had opposed Saul in the past, but Saul showed mercy to them. As a result, Saul solidified his kingship and held an official coronation ceremony as king in Gilgal (verses 12-15).

[Explanation]

The text mentions the scene where Saul waged his first war after becoming king. Through this, Saul solidifies his position as the true king recognized by all the people of Israel. We see God's great providence through the story of Nahash, the king of Ammon, invading Jabesh Gilead east of the Jordan River and being severely defeated by Israel.

1 Samuel 12: Samuel's Last Sermon 

[Summary]

This chapter records the last farewell sermon given by Samuel, the last judge of Israel and the founder of the monarchy, as he transferred the ruling authority of Israel to the new leader Saul. Samuel looked back on his activities as a judge and confessed that he had never acted against his conscience (verses 1-5). He also recalled God's grace that had been bestowed on Israel from the Exodus until now (verses 6-13). This was to point out that their actions of demanding a king for Israel were a sin against God's rule, and to warn that there would be severe judgment if they betrayed God in the future (verses 14-18). Finally, Samuel comforted the people who realized their sins and were afraid, and encouraged them to obey God's words, thus doing his best in his mission as a judge until the end (verses 19-25).

[Explanation]

Raised by the priest Eli, Samuel never abandoned his loyalty and faithfulness before God from his youth to his old age. Now, with the advent of King Saul of Israel, he no longer had to perform his duties. The text shows Samuel handing over his duties to Saul and returning from being a public figure to being a private person. It also mentions his final farewell sermon.

1 Samuel 13: King Saul's Unbelief 

[Summary]

With Samuel's farewell speech on the battlefield, Israel finally entered the era of the judges and the full-fledged monarchy. However, as Samuel had already mentioned, the monarchy system itself began with the people's evil intentions, so it could never bring good results. This chapter clearly shows the sinfulness of the monarchy through the crime of Saul, the first king of Israel. After becoming king, Saul attacked the Philistines, Israel's enemy. However, when the situation of the battle turned against them, the people began to waver (verses 1-7). In addition, when Samuel, whom he had been waiting for, did not arrive quickly, Saul, who was anxious, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings himself, thereby violating his priestly duties and receiving Samuel's rebuke (verses 8-15). Meanwhile, at this time, the Philistines already had iron weapons, but Israel did not have proper weapons and was at a military disadvantage (verses 16-23).

[Explanation]

The text shows the development of the Battle of Michmash, which occurred in the second year of Saul’s reign, the year after he became king. After Saul ascended to the throne, Israel again gathered an army and boasted a strong military force. Thus, the Battle of Michmash was a war waged for the purpose of breaking away from the power of the Philistines and maintaining a truly independent nation.

1 Samuel 14: King Saul's Arrogance 

[Summary]

This shows the battle of Michmash against the Philistines that started on the battlefield and progressed in earnest. Israel, who confronted the Philistines at Michmash, defeated the Philistines and gained an advantageous position through the courageous actions based on the faith of Saul's son Jonathan (verses 1-23). ​​On this day, Saul gave an order that no one should eat food until the Philistines were completely defeated. However, Jonathan, who did not hear this, ate honey from the forest, and the people, unable to bear their hunger, committed the sin of eating meat with the blood (verses 24-35). This clearly shows Saul's failure to make the right judgment as a leader. Because of this incident, Jonathan almost died at the hands of Saul (verses 36-46). However, through this battle, Saul laid the foundation for a monarchy and began to build a kingdom (verses 47-52).

[Explanation]

The text specifically mentions the development of the battle of Michmash following the battlefield. Saul had committed a sin against God by personally performing a sacrifice in order to avoid a Philistine counterattack at the beginning of the battle. Now, in this text, we see Saul making another foolish mistake by giving a reckless order, putting his army in danger and even putting the life of his son Jonathan in danger.