And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. (1 Samuel 10:24)
I have had the pleasure of turning over churches I founded from the ground up to other pastors. Sometimes, people in the congregation accept this pastoral change with honor and love; sometimes, they get angry and decide to leave because it wasn’t what they wanted.
In 1 Samuel 10:24, Samuel presented Saul to the people as Israel's first king. However, he reminded them that God had chosen Saul. This directive emphasized that the king must be selected by God, rather than by human ambition or popular vote. The king was to represent God’s authority on earth and guide the people in obeying His laws.
Although a King was not God’s original plan for Israel, He still wanted to lead the people through this choice. God accommodated their request while ensuring the leader was chosen according to His will. There would still be consequences, but amid their mistakes, God proved faithful and guided His people through their leaders.
This new leadership form also renewed a focus on God’s laws and covenants. The king was not above God’s law but was expected to model obedience and lead the nation in righteousness. However, none of them did this perfectly. Even the best king, David, was imperfect, indicating the need for a perfect King—Jesus Christ—who would fulfill God’s promises.
Practical Application
How can you honor the leaders God has placed in your life? No matter the circumstance, we must see that God placed them in the position for such a time as this, honor them with our prayers, and do what we can to help them walk in righteousness.