1 Samuel

1 Samuel 10: The LORD saves from every trouble

Begin in prayer

Before we watch Samuel anoint Saul, and learn that Israel rejected the God who saved them from every trouble, let us pray together. Ask Him to keep our hearts near, and to show us Jesus.

You are my help and my deliverer.

Psalm 40:17

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You save Your people from every trouble, and help us to put our trust in You alone. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said the LORD had anointed him to be prince over His inheritance. Samuel gave Saul signs on the road, and the Spirit of God came mightily on him among the prophets. God gave Saul another heart, and all the signs happened that day. Samuel called the people to Mizpah and reminded them that the LORD had saved them out of every calamity. When the tribes were brought near, Saul was chosen, but when they looked for him, he had hidden among the baggage. The people shouted, “Long live the king!” but some worthless fellows despised him.

As you read 1 Samuel 10, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD is the God who saves His people, yet they rejected Him and asked for a king.

Samuel poured oil on Saul's head and said the LORD had anointed him to be prince over His inheritance (verse 1). Pouring oil on a head set a man apart for the LORD's work. Samuel gave Saul signs on the road, and the Spirit of God came mightily on him (verses 6 to 10). God also gave him another heart (verse 9). At Mizpah Samuel gave the people the LORD's words. He brought them out of Egypt, and He saves them out of all their calamities (verses 17 to 19). Yet they had said no to Him and asked for a king, and so they had rejected their God (verse 19). Saul was chosen, but he was hiding among the baggage, and the LORD told them where he was (verses 20 to 22). The LORD gave them the king they asked for, and He stayed the God who saves them out of every trouble.

How does 1 Samuel 10 show us that the LORD is the God who saves His people, yet they rejected Him and asked for a king?

God gives Saul another heart.

When Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart (verse 9). Samuel had said the Spirit of the LORD would come mightily on him and turn him into another man (verse 6). All the signs happened that day, and Saul prophesied with a band of prophets (verses 9 and 10). The people were amazed, and a saying began, Is Saul also among the prophets (verses 11 and 12).

The LORD saves His people from every trouble.

Samuel brought the people to Mizpah with the LORD's own message (verses 17 and 18). He brought Israel out of Egypt and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed them (verse 18). He is the God who Himself saves them out of all their calamities and distresses (verse 19). No king could take that place.

The people rejected the God who saves them.

Samuel told the people they had rejected their God, who saves them, and had asked for a king instead (verse 19). Saul was chosen and then found hiding among the baggage (verses 20 to 22). Some worthless men despised him and brought him no present (verse 27). Jesus came to His own, and His own did not receive Him (John 1 verse 11).

Memorise

I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.

1 Samuel 10:18

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I trust Jesus to save me from my sin and every trouble?

Samuel told Israel what the LORD said, “I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians.” They had rejected the God who saves them out of all their calamities, and still He chose a king for them.

God's people have turned away from Him again and again, and so have we. Our sin is rebellion against the God who saves. Yet He sent His own Son, and His own people did not receive Him. On the cross Jesus paid the whole debt of His people's rebellion, and the Father raised Him on the third day. He is the Saviour from our worst trouble, which is sin.

Do not turn away from Him. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. He forgives and saves everyone who comes to the Father through Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD saves His people from every trouble. Jesus is the Saviour who saves them from sin. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He saves His people from every trouble, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you.

Isaiah 46:4

Father, You carry Your people and save them from every trouble. Thank You that You gave Israel a king, and that You sent Jesus, the King who saves. Turn us from our sin, and help us to trust Him and not our own strength. Keep us close to You this week. Amen.