David is not the first King of Israel! Even though some scholars would actually insist that David was the first king since he was specifically chosen by God and that Saul was just chosen by the people. I beg to differ. Despite the fact that that is the truth, God allowed Saul to be chosen as king and it is also logical to say that from the Bible itself, Saul was the first king. Saul is identified in the Books of Samuel, 1 Chronicles and the Qur’an as the first king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel. Saul reigned from Gibeah for some four decades at the close of the second millennium B.C. When his reign succumbed to a Philistine onslaught, a part of his kingdom fell to the Philistines, while the remainder was contested by his surviving son Ish-bosheth and rival David. The Books of Samuel give three distinct accounts of how Saul came to be anointed as king:

* (1 Samuel 9:1-10:16) Saul was sent with a servant to look for his father’s donkeys, who had strayed; leaving his home at Gibeah, they eventually wander to the district of Zuph, at which point Saul suggests abandoning their search. Saul’s servant however, remarks that they happened to be near the town of Ramah, where a famous seer was located, and suggested that they should consult him first. The seer (later identified by the text as Samuel), having previously had a vision instructing him to do so, offers hospitality to Saul when he enters Ramah, and later anoints him in private.

* (1 Samuel 10:17-24 and 12:1-5) Desiring to be like other nations, there was a popular movement to establish a centralized monarchy. Samuel therefore assembled the people at Mizpah in Benjamin, and despite having strong reservations, which he made no attempt to hide, allows the appointment of a king. Samuel uses cleromancy to determine who it was that God desired to be the king, whittling the assembly down into ever smaller groups until Saul is finally identified. Saul, hiding in baggage, is then publicly anointed.

* (1 Samuel 11:1-11 and 11:15) The Ammonites, led by Nahash, lay siege to Jabesh-Gilead, who are forced to surrender. Under the terms of surrender, the occupants of the city would be forced into slavery, and have their right eyes removed as a sign of this. The city’s occupants send out word of this to the other tribes of Israel, and the tribes west of the Jordan assemble an army under the leadership of Saul. Saul leads the army to victory against the Ammonites, and, in both gratitude and appreciation of military skill; the people congregate at Gilgal, and acclaim Saul as king.

REFERENCE:

            - The Bible; Wikipedia. Org

2 Samuel 12:13-14 (New International Version)

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”

David thought he had successfully covered up his sins, and had “gotten away with it” but when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, he immediately confessed his sin. As a result, we see God’s plan and purpose of restoration at work and David was comforted in the assurance that his great sins were forgiven. Because David’s sins had reflected disreputably on the Lord, God’s plan included severe discipline. Discipline is always part of God’s work of restoring a sinner to fellowship with Himself. But even in the death of David and Bathsheba’s child, we find that David was comforted.

We see David moving on in life—in his marriage with Bathsheba, in his job as king of Israel, and in his defeat of Israel’s enemies. He didn’t do anything drastic or dramatic, like committing suicide or leaving the throne. He worshiped the Lord. He moved on in life with the responsibilities God had given him. David received the comfort that only God can give in the midst of guilt and grief. God was picking up the pieces in David’s life in a wonderful way—including the birth of a son, Solomon, by his wife Bathsheba—even though David would continue to face the consequences of his forgiven sin.

If we have sinned, we shouldn’t live the rest of our lives in depression or despair. We shouldn’t feel that we can never be useful to God again. Let us confess our sin. Acknowledge our guilt before God and ask for forgiveness. Get restored to fellowship with the Lord. We don’t need to live in the rehashed scenarios and the guilt and grief of our past. Yes, there will be scars, but we must get on with the responsibilities God has given us. We can do it because God’s comfort is available in the midst of guilt and grief.

One scholar argues a reasonable process of gradual acceptance for the political climate of the time is needed. Given that Israel was a loose confederation of tribes united by their faith, and without a strong political or theological leader, he argues that a series of displays of ability or, from a theological point of view, gifts from God as evidence that He was divinely chosen for rulership were needed to bring all the tribes on board for the inevitable loss of individual freedom resulting from the institution of a monarchy.

Some might say that the Book of Samuel is both, parts may be pro to this kind of government and some of it is anti. But before we look into it, let us first define the word monarchy for us to be able to understand the question further. Monarchy according to my friend Mr. Webster is a form of government upon which the power is vested to a sovereign, as a king or emperor which in modern times, usually, a hereditary constitutional sovereign; originally, the sole ruler of a nation. So base from that definition, it is somewhat in tune with the Book of Samuel because the people of Israel has chosen a king and the blood of that anointed one will carry the line of kingship. Unfortunately, Saul was the first and the last of hid line and there came another king not within his bloodline. Does that make it less monarchial as it is? No! As for my observation, the Book of Samuel is pro-monarchy for the very reason that it is through this form of regime has bring forth peace and greater security of the land. In the Book of Samuel, most of the events that have happened that are mostly stated are those of which monarchy has taken a big role in the unity of Israel.

REFERENCE:

            - Old Testament Survey, Stratford, Et. Al.

            - Webster Comprehensive Dictionary (International Edition)

1 Samuel 15:22 (New International Version)

“But Samuel replied: ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

We’ve read so much about a sinful nation the people of Israel are, how they are loaded with guilt, how they do evil and how their children are prone to corruption. The Bible speaks of how the Israelites have forsaken God and turned away from their God, their Lord. They are continually challenged to hear God’s words, to listen closely. God is telling the people what good are their sacrifices of burnt offerings and fat animals. What good is a sacrifice if you do not obey the word of God?

Often, we like the Israelites, turn our back on God in the most crucial moments. From day one of biblical history, we see how people have turned their backs on God. Time after time we see that right after God has blessed us that we take that blessing, say thank you, and then go right on our own merry way. We think that just because one particular blessing is over that we can do whatever we wish. But we think we are justified in our actions because we give up certain things for God. Just because we make one or two sacrifices for God, we somehow think that those sacrifices atone for our other sins. Granted, the sacrifices that we make signify a commitment to the word of God and represent our appreciation for what He has done for us, but that is not a sure way to gain favor in the sight of God.

To sacrifice means to give up, we are just returning to Him what was His in the first place. And not to say that sacrifices are not important, because they are. However, sacrifices only represent that you acknowledge God, not that you are necessarily following what God is telling you to do.