1 Samuel 14:47

1 Samuel 14:47 says, So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.  Saul began to establish himself as a powerful king, defending Israel against their enemies all around them.  Still, this was what God had always done for them, so a king was really unnecessary.  We as followers of Christ need to learn to rely on Him totally, and not on earthly rulers, and we have direct access to God and need no one to stand between God and us.  Verse forty-eight adds, And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.  Saul gathered a host, or army, and delivered the Israelites out of the hands of the Amalekites.  Saul was successful in defending Israel, but that still didn't mean that Israel having a king was God's plan.  We may be successful as Christians today, but if we are acting outside of God's word and leadership, it is a temporary success.  Verse forty-nine states, Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:  We are then given the names of Saul's sons and daughters, though Jonathan is the one we hear the most about.  As descendants of the king, they might have expected to be the heirs of the kingdom, but that was not God's plan.  As I have said before, simply being the child of a preacher or teacher in the church today does not make that person a preacher or teacher.  Only a call from God does.  Verse fifty adds, And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.  Then, we are given the name of Saul's wife and the captain of his army, who was his first cousin.  I don't know if Abner was chosen for that reason or not, but we cannot use nepotism to choose our leaders in the church today.  Verse fifty-one continues, And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.  This is simply more details about Saul's family.  Verse fifty-two concludes, And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.  Israel was at war with the Philistines all during Saul's reign as king, and anytime Saul saw a strong or valiant man in Israel, he took him into his army, as Samuel had told the people would happen.   We as Christians will be at war withevil in the world as long as we live, and we need to be united in following God's will for each of us individually.  We cannot all be expecting to do the same thing, but are 7nited in purpose while serving in different roles in God's kingdom.