1 Samuel 10:9

1 Samuel 10:9 says, And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.  When Saul turned away from Samuel, God gave him a new heart.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are given a new heart, one that is devoted to God and should seek to do God's will in all that we do.  Samuel saw all the signs that Samuel had shown Him come to pass that day.  We may not see signs specific to us being fulfilled in our life after we accept Jesus Christ, but I believe God will always give us a sense of spiritual peace and security when we put our faith in Him, and we will see signs of His working in our life.  Verse ten adds, And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.  When Saul came to a certain hill, which Matthew Henry says was Gibeah, he met a company of prophets, so we can assume that Samuel was not the only prophet in Israel, though he was the only judge.  Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul suddenly, and Matthew Henry says not to stay long, but oi inspire him briefly at that time.  When this happened, Saul prophesied with the other prophets.  We today should know that we are not alone as Christians, and also that the Holy Spirit indwells each of us continually from the time we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  It is then up to us if we follow His leadership or not.  Verse eleven continues, And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?  The people around him who knew Saul asked what had come over Saul.  They said wasn't he the son of Kish, and asked if he were now a prophet.  Sometimes the people who know us best may be amazed at the change that comes over us when we accept Jesus Christ, and they may really question it if we are called into the ministry, but if God calls us, all we can do is answer, no matter what people may think.  Verse twelve states, And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?  One of those there asked who the Father of the other prophets were,and the answer was God, at least spiritually.  It doesn't really matter from a spiritual perspective who our earthly parents are, because we all have the same Heavenly Father as Christians.  He then calls us to a particular place of service in His kingdom.  It became a proverb with them about Saul being among the prophets, since he had never been before.  Verse thirteen adds, And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.  After Saul was finished prophesying, and we are not told what he prophesied, he came to the high place.  Saul went there to give thanks to God for all that He had done for him.  We should always stand ready to give God the praise for all that He does for us today daily, even if we don't immediately recognize everything that He is doing.  Verse fourteen continues, And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.  When Saul’s uncle saw him, he asked him where he had been.  He had been away several days, so his uncle may have been curious as to why he was away so long.  Saul said they, his servant and he, had left looking for the missing asses, but they then also went to see Samuel about them.  Hunting for the missing asses had been what Saul had been sent to do, and he had been responsibly doing so.  As we go about our everyday life, we may experience God's call to do something else, and if so, we need to be obedient to His call.  Verse fifteen says, And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.  His uncle asked Saul to tell him everything Samuel had told him. If Saul had been to see the judge of Israel, his uncle wanted to know what Samuel may have told him.  We need to be ready to tell people about our meeting Jesus Christ and accepting Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse sixteen adds, And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.  Saul only told his uncle about what Samuel said about the asses being found, and not about him being anointed as the king of Israel.   Matthew Henry says Saul was still humble at this point, but for whatever reason, he said nothing about his soon to be position as the king of Israel, which would be a first for them.  We should always be humble as Christians, but never to the point that it keeps us from sharing with others what God is doing in our life. 

1 Samuel 10:1

1 Samuel 10:1 says, Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?  After talking with Saul privately, Samuel anointed him with oil and kissed him, which was much like our handshake in America today, though the kiss on the cheek is still a way of greeting people in many cultures even today.  Samuel asked Saul if it wasn't because God had appointed Saul captain of Isreal that he did this.  Anointing was also something done with priests and signified the transfer of the role of the leadership of Israel from the priests to the king.  I believe he was asking if Saul understood why Samuel did it.  It doesn't do much good to be appointed to a position and not know it.  Verse two adds, When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?  Samuel then gave Saul further instructions concerning the asses he was looking for.  Samuel gave Saul specific details about what he would encounter, which when they occurred would confirm Samuel's position as a prophet.  We can be certain that if people tell us that they have had a vision from God today that if they have, it will happen just as they said it would.  Of course, not everything that people claim to be a vision from God that then happens is necessarily a vision from God.  The great deceiver, Satan, can sometimes cause things to happen so that they appear to be miracles from God.  Samuel also told Saul that he would be told that his father was sorrowful for him, and was asking what he could do for Saul.  Verse three continues, Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:  Samuel then told Saul that after he met the two men at Rachel's tomb who would tell him about the asses, he was to continue on to the plain of Tabor, where he would meet three men going to Bethel, and he was specific about what each of them would have with them.  Of course, in order to know if this was true, Saul had to do what Samuel told him to do.  Saul could have decided that since his mission from his father was accomplished, even if it did seem miraculous that Samuel told him so many details about it, that he would just return home.  As followers of Christ, we may at times miss out on greater blessings because we meet our original goal, and then just return home instead of pressing on ahead.  Verse four states, And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.  Samuel said these three men would greet Saul, and give him two of the three loaves of bread that they had, and Saul was to receive it from  them.  In order to receive a blessing from God, we must be willing to receive it.  Verse five adds, After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:  Samuel told Saul after this he was to come to the hill of God, where a garrison of Philistines were stationed.  Samuel said that there Saul would encounter a company of prophets, and told him all the musical instuments they would have with them.  Of course, this still required that Saul continue on by faith in what Samuel had told him.  If we are going to be successful in our Christian walk today, we must always continue on by faith in God.  Verse six continues, And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.  Samuel then told Saul that the Spirit of the LORD would come on him then, he would prophesy with these prophets, and he would be changed into a different man.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to indwelll us, and we are changed into a different person. Verse seven declares, And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.  Samuel told Saul because, not if, when these signs occurred, to do as the occasion called for, by God's guidance, because God was with him.  Of course, we should do what God calls us to do today because He is with us.  Verse eight adds, And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.  Samuel then told Saul that after this, he was to go to Gilgal and wait for Samuel to come and offer sacrifices to God for Saul.  He said that Saul was to wait there seven days before he came and told Saul what he was to do.  Sometimes, we may have to wait to see what God wants us to do next, and that may be difficult to do.  Saul had been wanting to return home, and now if he were to follow Samuel's instructions, he would be further delayed in doing so and have a totally different mission in life.  We cannot afford to let our plans come between us and God's calling for us.

1 Samuel 9:22

1 Samuel 19:22 says, And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour at the publicfeast,, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.  After Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the parlor, he had them sit in the best seats.  We need to remember that his servant and Saul had only gone looking for Samuel because they thought he might help themm in their quest for some lost asses, and now they were honored as the most important guests.  Saul had certainly never gone out looking to be king of Israel.  We may find that as we are going about the routine, or even mundane, things of life, that God will have other plans for us.  Verse twenty-three adds, And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.  Samuel then told the cook to bring the portion that he had told him, or maybe, her, to set aside.  Samuel had done this because of a divine revelation the day before of Saul's coming.  If God is leading us to do something today, He will help us to be prepared to do it, whatever it might be.  Saul had said that they were out of money and meat before they went to Samuel, and now they were being served the best of the food.  Verse twenty-four continues, And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people.  So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.  Samuel told Saul to eat the meat, which was a shoulder of mutton.  Matthew Henry said the right shoulder was reserved for the the priest, and the left shoulder for the person of honor, that this signified Samuel passing his place as ruler of Isreal to Saul. This was all because God had told Samuel that Saul was to be king.  If we are in a position of leadership in the church today, we should always be ready to pass that position on if God directs us to do so.  Verse twenty-five states, And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.  After coming down from the feast, Samuel communed with Saul on the rooftop of his house.  Matthew Henry says we can suppose that Samuel told Saul all about the people's desire for a king at this time, but we really aren't told what they discussed.  Verse twenty-six adds, And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.  Early the next morning, Samuel told Saul to get up, that it was time for him to return home.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.  When they got to the end of the city, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead so he could show Saul the word if God.  This was not Samuel's plan, but God's plan to satisfy the grumbling of the people of Israel about not having a king.  God may at times grant our desire, even if He knows it isn't what is best for us.  

1 Samuel 9:11

1 Samuel 9:11 says, And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?  Saul and his servant went looking for the man of God, Samuel.  Though we as followers of Christ should be reaching out to the lost, it is even better when they come seeking us, and if you are struggling in life today and do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, if you have questions about how to do so, seek out a Christian to help you understand how.  Verse twelve adds, And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:  The young maidens told Saul and his servant that the man of God was there, and to hurry because he had come early to make a sacrifice for the people.  Though he was getting older,Samuel was still performing his duties as a priest.  Since as Christians we are all a part of the priesthood of believers, we should start early every day doing what God has called us to do.  Verse thirteen continues, As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.  The maidens emphasized the need for them to hurry, to catch Samuel before he went up to the high place offer his sacrifice for the people.  The rest of the people would not eat of the feast from the sacrifice until Samuel did, which would be another reason for them to hurry.  We should respect God's ministers today, though we should also never put them on a pedestal.  Verse fourteen states, And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.  When they got to the city, they caught Samuel as he was about to go to the high place.  Samuel was going about his routine day, but Saul was about to interrupt him.  We may at times be interrupted on our way to worship God, but we should always have time to answer the questions of lost people.  Verse fifteen adds, Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, Verse sixteen continues, Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.  God had spoken to Samuel the day before, telling him that today he would meet a man from the tribe of Benjamin, and that Samuel was to appoint him as the captain of His people.  I don't know that God has ever spoken into my ear, but He does speak in a still, quiet Voice to my soul, if I am listening.  Samuel was still the man in charge in Israel, but that was about to change.  God said He had heard the people of Israel wanted a king, and that He heard them crying out for deliverance, and that the man that Samuel appointed as captain, or king, would deliver them from the Philistines.  God may have been displeased with their desire for a king, but He still called them His people and sent the man to fulfill their request.  If we ask amiss for something today, something that is less than what God may have been ready to bless us with, He may grant our wish, and we as Christians will never stop being His children.  Verse seventeen states, And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.  When Samuel saw Saul, which should have been easy enough to do since he stood a head taller than the other Israelites, God told him that Saul was the man that He had chosen to lead His people.  Matthew Henry points out that Saul would have been a likely choice of the people because of his stature.  Of course, we cannot pick leaders of the church, or even the nation, based on the way they look.  Verse eighteen adds, Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.  Saul did not recognize Samuel, but instead asked him where he could find the seer`s house.  Saul didn't know Samuel, and God had not pointed Samuel out to him.  We may not recognize God's preachers today just based on physical appearance, but if we have a concern about some issue in life, hopefully we will seek one out.  God may have already prepared them to meet us and answer our questions.  Verse nineteen continues, And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me today, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.  Samuel told Saul that he was the seer that he sought, and then invited him to go with him to the high place, where Saul would eat with him, and Samuel would tell him all that was in his heart the next day.  This was not why Saul was seeking Samuel, but Samuel promised him even more than what he was looking for.  God still does the same with us today as followers of Christ at times.  Verse twenty says, And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?  Samuel then answered the question that Saul had yet to ask and was the reason Saul had sought him out.  Samuel told him not to worry about the asses that he was hunting, because they were safely at home.  This should have been proof to Saul that Samuel was indeed a seer, or prophet.  Samuel then told Saul that since the people wanted a king that they would find no better man than him.  We today may find that sometimes God answers our prayers even before we ask them and gives us an even greater blessing than we are looking for.  Also, if God is calling us to a particular position, there is no better person to fulfill that position.  Verse twenty-one adds, And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?  Saul was modest in his answer.  He said that he was from the smallest tribe of Israel and that his family was the least of the families of that tribe, and then asked Samuel why he would say these things.  Though by answering Saul's unanswered question about the asses Samuel had proven himself to be a seer, Saul still questioned His ability.  We should be modest in our view of ourselves, but never to the point of questioning what God has called us to do.

1 Sam 9:1

1 Samuel 9:1 says, Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.  We are told a lot about a man named Kish, who was a man of Benjamin.  The Benjamites were the tribe that was nearly destroyed while defending the city of Gibeah after their great sin.  Of course, they had been known as men of valor and had been good at fighting wars, but they had also been willing to destroy the rest of Israel.  Now, as we will learn, it was from this tribe that Israel would choose their first king, or more accurately that God would choose him for them.  Verse two adds, And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.  Kish had a son named Saul, and he was noted for being very good man, and he was at least a head taller than the other Israelites.  He would seem to be an ideal candidate for a king.  We could all benefit from having a leader who is physically fit and above and above all else is a good man.  Verse three continues, And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.  Kish's asses were lost,  and he told Saul to take one of the servants and go find them.  Saul may have been the one day king, but at the moment, he was a son who was subjected to and obedient to his father.  No matter what we may be in this world, as followers of Christ we are just His children and subject to His leadership and we should be obedient to that leadership.  Verse four states, And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.  Saul traveled to many places looking for the missing asses, but he didn't find them.  Even if we put forth our best efforts in what we are doing, we are not guaranteed success, so then we have can either choose to continue working or give up and quit.  If it is something that the Heavenly Father has told us to do, hopefully we will not quit if we don't meet with immediate success.  Verse five adds, And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.  Saul decided after they got to the land of Zuph and didn't find them, that it was time to return home, since his father would be worried that something had happened to him, and he told his servant this.  We as Christians should never spend too much time away from our Heavenly Father, because He is always concerned about us.  Verse six continues, And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.  Saul’s servant said there was a man of God, in the city and they should consult him about what to do.  This man of God was Samuel. If people are having trouble today, would they say of us that we are a man or woman of God and that they should come to us for advice?  Verse seven says, Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?  Saul was concerned about what reward they could offer the man of God for helping them.  Of course, a true man of God would not expect payment for his advice.  Verse eight adds, And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.  Though he may have been a future king, Saul had to rely on his servant to provide the money to pay the man of God.  Even rulers should be willing to accept help from others when it is needed, and we should be willing to help them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and for God's glory and not our own.  Veres nine states, (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)  At one time, prophets were evidently called seers, due to their ability to see into the future.  Of course, this wasn't because of any psychic ability or their own power, but by the power and revelation of God.  Verse ten adds, Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.  Saul said that the servant had a good idea, and they went up to the city where Samuel the man of God was.  If we have problems, we would be well advised to find a man of God and ask for his advice.  Of course, we can go directly to God, but He has also placed people in positions of leadership in the church today who are there to help us.

1 Samuel 8:11

1 Samuel 8:11 says,  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.  Samuel told the people what was going to happen when they had a king.  Some of their sons would have to be servants of the king, in particular in relationship to his chariots.  This was in accordance with the way kings of other nations were treated, and Israel wanted a king so they could be like other nations.  If we choose to follow after the ways of the world as followers of Christ, we can expect it to cost us.  Verse twelve adds, And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.  Samuel added some other demands that would be made on the people of Israel.  Children who had served their parents would now serve the king to meet his needs. Some would serve in his army and some would reap his crops, and if he were to be like other kings, then all crops would basically belong to him.  In some respects, he would be replacing God, Who had provided for both the needs and defense of Israel and everything ultimately belonged to Him.  The one big difference, the king would demand these things, but God Who really did supply everything for them only asked for their obedience.  We need to be careful that we don't desire to be like the world more than we want to be dependent on God.  Verse thirteen continues, And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.  The sons weren't the only ones who would be affected, because their daughters would be expected to be cooks and bakers for the king.  Everyone would be subjected to the king.  Verse fourteen states, And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.  The king would have total control over the people, taking their fields and giving them to his servants.  They would be surrendering individual rights to the authoritarian rule of the king.  We as Christians have been set free to enjoy God's blessings without anyone being able to take them away from us, yet we sometimes surrender that freedom willingly in order to be like the rest of the world.  Verse fifteen continues, And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.  They were told that the king would take a tithe from them.  The people were already expected to pay their tithe to God, and this would not replace that, but would be an additional tithe they would pay.  We today likewise cannot count taxes as a substitute for the tithe.  Verse sixteen continues, And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.  Verse seventeen concludes, He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.  These verses are a continuation of the warning Samuel was giving the people about what a king would cost them. We as followers of Christ should already know that if we put someone else in charge of life instead if allowing God to be, it is going to cost us.  Verse eighteen declares, And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.  Samuel warned them that if they appointed a king, when all that he demanded became too much, that they would call out to God, but He wouldn't hear them. We cannot go against God's law and direction in our life and complain to Him when things go wrong.  Verse nineteen adds, Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;  In spite of all Samuel's warnings, the people of Israel would not listen to him and said that they would have a iing.  Sometimes, no matter how much Christians are warned about the danger of attempting to be like the rest of the world,  they will not heed the warning.  Verse twenty continues, That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.  Instead of relying on God to appoint them judges and to fight their battles for them, they demanded a king to do so.  Evidently, they had forgotten how many kings they had defeated by the power and leadership of God.  We should never look to anyone or anything in this world to give us victory over the forces of evil but God Himself.  Verse twenty-one states, And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.  Samuel heard what the people said, and repeated it to God,  He did not just make the decision himself, and neither should we as Christians when it comes to anything in life.  Verse twenty-two continues, And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.  God told Samuel to listen to them and to make them a king, and Samuel told them for everyone to return to their own city.  God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts, and we better hope we never find ourselves in the same position today. 

1 Samuel 8:1

1 Samuel 8:1 says, And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.  After Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.  We are not told that God directed him to do this.  Of course, there was more of an ascendancy to the priesthood by family in those days, but Samuel had not become a prophet and judge that way, but really by quite the opposite.  We cannot assume that just because a person is a preacher today that their children are going to be, although sometimes they are called by God.  Verse two adds, Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.  Verse three continues, And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.  His sons, Joel and Abiah, did not walk following the LORD, but turned aside from His ways for money and perverted justice.  I know many people believe that justice can be bought today, but it should never be for sale by those who are followers of Christ.  Verse four states, Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,  Verse five adds, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.  The elders of Israel came to Samuel and told him what he already knew.  He was old, and his sons did not walk in the ways of the LORD.  They then demanded that he make them a king to judge them, like other nations had.  We are always going to fall into trouble if we as followers of Christ want to be like the people of the world.  Once again, we are not told that they consulted God about this decision, nor had they asked Samuel to do so.  We need to always ask God first before we implement any plan.  Verse six declares, But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.  Samuel was displeased by their demand or request, and at least he  recognized the fact that God should be consulted about this decision.  I believe Christians should always seek God's guidance in any matter, especially those related to the church or the nation.  Verse seven adds, And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.  God told Samuel to grant what they were asking, and that by what they were asking, thay weren't rejecting Samuel, but they were rejecting God.  God had been their ruler since they left Egypt, and as long as they were obedient to Him, they had always been triumphant, defeating nation after nation that had a king.  Now, they wanted an earthly king, instead of being obedient to the Heavenly King. Verse eight continues, According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.  God pointed out that since leaving Egypt the people of Israel had been rebelling against Him time after time,and now they were doing the same thing to Samuel.  We need to do our best to avoid these cycles of faith in our Christian walk today. Verse nine says, Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.  Verse ten adds, And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.  God again told Samuel that it wasn't Samuel's rule that they were rejecting, but the rule of God Himself.  God told Samuel to protest solemnly to them, but then see what manner of king they would choose, and Samuel told the people what God had said.  Ultimately, all we can do today is tell people what God's word says, and then it is up to them how they respond.