WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.607 Day 100 and 87 00:00:05.164 --> 00:00:11.554 as Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel, Joel and Aja. 00:00:11.734 --> 00:00:17.314 His oldest sons held court in Beersheba, but they were not like their father 00:00:17.644 --> 00:00:19.084 for they were greedy for money. 00:00:19.594 --> 00:00:22.414 They accepted bribes and perverted justice. 00:00:23.074 --> 00:00:27.604 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Rama to discuss the matter with Samuel. 00:00:28.159 --> 00:00:33.319 Look, they told him, you are now old and your sons are not like you. 00:00:33.919 --> 00:00:37.099 Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have. 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:42.679 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 00:00:43.459 --> 00:00:49.159 Do everything they say to you, the Lord replied for they're rejecting me, not you. 00:00:49.789 --> 00:00:52.039 They don't want me to be their king any longer. 00:00:52.924 --> 00:00:56.044 Ever since I brought them from Egypt, they have continually 00:00:56.044 --> 00:00:58.444 abandoned me and followed other gods. 00:00:59.044 --> 00:01:01.294 And now they are giving you the same treatment. 00:01:02.044 --> 00:01:07.114 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them. 00:01:08.884 --> 00:01:12.304 So Samuel passed on the Lord's warning to the people who were asking 00:01:12.304 --> 00:01:17.794 him for a king, this is how a king will reign over you, Samuel said. 00:01:18.664 --> 00:01:23.524 The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, 00:01:23.854 --> 00:01:25.984 making them run before his chariots. 00:01:26.614 --> 00:01:29.254 Some will be generals and captains in his army. 00:01:29.704 --> 00:01:34.354 Some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:36.334 make his weapons and chariot equipment. 00:01:37.204 --> 00:01:40.654 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook 00:01:40.804 --> 00:01:43.234 and bake and make perfumes for him. 00:01:44.014 --> 00:01:47.764 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves. 00:01:48.124 --> 00:01:50.074 And give them to his own officials. 00:01:50.584 --> 00:01:55.114 He will take a 10th of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it 00:01:55.114 --> 00:01:57.334 among his officers and at attendants. 00:01:57.994 --> 00:02:02.134 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your 00:02:02.139 --> 00:02:04.924 cattle and donkeys for his own use. 00:02:05.554 --> 00:02:08.704 He will demand a 10th of your flocks and you will be his 00:02:08.704 --> 00:02:11.194 slaves when that day comes. 00:02:11.374 --> 00:02:14.014 You will beg for relief from this king. 00:02:14.014 --> 00:02:15.094 You are demanding. 00:02:15.814 --> 00:02:17.794 Then the Lord will not help you. 00:02:18.874 --> 00:02:21.574 But the people refuse to listen to Samuel's warning, 00:02:22.174 --> 00:02:24.604 even so we still want a king. 00:02:24.844 --> 00:02:28.174 They said, we want to be like the nations around us. 00:02:28.504 --> 00:02:30.964 Our king will judge us and lead us into battle. 00:02:32.224 --> 00:02:36.574 So Samuel repeated to the Lord with the people had said, and the Lord replied, 00:02:36.994 --> 00:02:39.394 do as they say and give them a king. 00:02:40.384 --> 00:02:43.594 Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home. 00:02:45.124 --> 00:02:49.354 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. 00:02:50.014 --> 00:02:55.084 He was the son of a b l son of zero, son of Borth, son of 00:02:55.534 --> 00:02:57.124 Aya, of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:02:57.844 --> 00:03:02.194 His son, Saul, was the most handsome man in Israel, head and shoulders 00:03:02.194 --> 00:03:04.354 taller than anyone else in the land. 00:03:05.074 --> 00:03:07.264 One day, K's donkeys straight away. 00:03:07.504 --> 00:03:11.284 And he told Saul, take a servant with you and go look for the donkeys. 00:03:12.004 --> 00:03:15.784 So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of 00:03:15.784 --> 00:03:22.594 Efram, the land of Shalisha, the Shalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but 00:03:22.594 --> 00:03:24.664 they couldn't find the donkeys anywhere. 00:03:25.534 --> 00:03:31.264 Finally, they entered the region of Zf and Saul said to his servant, let's go home. 00:03:31.594 --> 00:03:35.164 By now, my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys. 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:38.779 But the servant said, I've just thought of something. 00:03:39.289 --> 00:03:41.899 There is a man of God who lives here in this town. 00:03:42.349 --> 00:03:46.999 He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. 00:03:47.389 --> 00:03:48.349 Let's go find him. 00:03:48.529 --> 00:03:52.969 Perhaps he can tell us which way to go, but we don't have anything to offer him. 00:03:53.119 --> 00:03:57.619 Saul replied, even our food is gone and we don't have a thing to give him. 00:03:58.564 --> 00:04:02.524 Well, the servant said, I have one small silver piece. 00:04:02.884 --> 00:04:06.064 We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens. 00:04:06.874 --> 00:04:10.534 In those days, if people wanted a message from God, they 00:04:10.534 --> 00:04:12.214 would say, let's go and ask. 00:04:12.214 --> 00:04:15.244 The seer for prophets used to be called Sears. 00:04:16.024 --> 00:04:17.704 All right, Saul agreed. 00:04:18.154 --> 00:04:18.875 Let's try it. 00:04:19.604 --> 00:04:22.354 So they started into the town where the Man of God lived. 00:04:23.284 --> 00:04:26.644 As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young 00:04:26.644 --> 00:04:28.414 women coming out to draw water. 00:04:28.984 --> 00:04:32.374 So Salin, his servant asked, is the SS seer here today? 00:04:33.034 --> 00:04:33.634 Yes. 00:04:33.784 --> 00:04:36.124 They replied, stay right on this road. 00:04:36.514 --> 00:04:38.074 He is at the town gates. 00:04:38.434 --> 00:04:41.884 He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the 00:04:41.884 --> 00:04:45.634 place of worship, hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. 00:04:46.024 --> 00:04:49.534 The guests won't begin eating until he arrives to bless the food. 00:04:50.554 --> 00:04:53.764 So they entered the town and as they passed through the gates, 00:04:53.974 --> 00:04:57.514 Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship. 00:04:58.384 --> 00:05:02.344 Now, the Lord had told Samuel the previous day about this time 00:05:02.349 --> 00:05:06.784 tomorrow, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, anoint him to 00:05:06.784 --> 00:05:08.674 be the leader of my people, Israel. 00:05:09.214 --> 00:05:11.584 He will rescue them for the Philistines for. 00:05:11.584 --> 00:05:15.124 I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry. 00:05:16.129 --> 00:05:20.839 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, that's the man I told you about. 00:05:21.169 --> 00:05:23.059 He will rule my people. 00:05:24.229 --> 00:05:28.429 Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, can you please 00:05:28.434 --> 00:05:30.259 tell me where the Sears' house is? 00:05:30.949 --> 00:05:32.089 I am the Seer. 00:05:32.569 --> 00:05:36.529 Samuel replied, go up to the place of worship ahead of me. 00:05:36.949 --> 00:05:40.339 We will eat there together, and in the morning, I'll tell you what you 00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:42.259 want to know and send you on your way. 00:05:42.919 --> 00:05:45.559 And don't worry about those donkeys that were lost three days 00:05:45.559 --> 00:05:46.879 ago for they have been found. 00:05:47.569 --> 00:05:50.509 And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the 00:05:50.509 --> 00:05:52.789 focus of all Israel's hopes. 00:05:53.659 --> 00:05:59.299 Saul replied, but I'm only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, 00:05:59.779 --> 00:06:03.619 and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe. 00:06:04.309 --> 00:06:05.879 Why are you talking like this to me? 00:06:07.699 --> 00:06:11.749 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them 00:06:11.749 --> 00:06:15.619 at the head of the table, honoring them above the 30 special guests. 00:06:16.369 --> 00:06:19.669 Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of 00:06:19.669 --> 00:06:23.059 meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor. 00:06:23.719 --> 00:06:27.079 So the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. 00:06:27.799 --> 00:06:28.849 Go ahead and eat it. 00:06:29.149 --> 00:06:34.069 Samuel said I was saving it for you even before I invited these others. 00:06:35.029 --> 00:06:40.249 So Saul ate with Samuel that day when they came down from the place 00:06:40.249 --> 00:06:42.259 of worship and returned to town. 00:06:42.709 --> 00:06:46.009 Samuel took Saul up to the roof of the house and prepared a 00:06:46.014 --> 00:06:48.499 bed for him there at Daybreak. 00:06:48.499 --> 00:06:51.799 The next morning, Samuel called to Saul, get up. 00:06:51.979 --> 00:06:53.449 It's time you were on your way. 00:06:54.349 --> 00:06:57.919 So Saul got ready and he and Samuel left the house together. 00:06:58.729 --> 00:07:03.379 When they reached the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on a head. 00:07:04.129 --> 00:07:09.259 After the servant was gone, Samuel said, stay here for I have received 00:07:09.259 --> 00:07:11.419 a special message for you from God. 00:07:12.499 --> 00:07:16.609 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. 00:07:17.269 --> 00:07:21.229 He kissed Saul and said, I am doing this because the Lord has 00:07:21.229 --> 00:07:25.759 appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession. 00:07:26.449 --> 00:07:30.859 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel's tomb at 00:07:30.859 --> 00:07:32.659 Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. 00:07:33.334 --> 00:07:36.244 They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your 00:07:36.244 --> 00:07:40.324 father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. 00:07:40.744 --> 00:07:43.264 He is asking, have you seen my son? 00:07:44.374 --> 00:07:49.234 When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who were 00:07:49.239 --> 00:07:54.184 on their way to worship God At Bethel, one will be bringing three young goats. 00:07:54.514 --> 00:07:57.934 Another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be 00:07:57.934 --> 00:08:00.034 carrying a wine skin full of wine. 00:08:00.754 --> 00:08:05.074 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept. 00:08:06.154 --> 00:08:10.654 When you arrive at Gibbon of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is 00:08:10.654 --> 00:08:15.214 located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. 00:08:15.844 --> 00:08:20.764 They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a liar, and 00:08:20.764 --> 00:08:23.674 they will be prophesying at that time. 00:08:23.824 --> 00:08:27.514 The spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you and 00:08:27.514 --> 00:08:28.984 you'll prophesy with them. 00:08:29.614 --> 00:08:35.314 You will be changed into a different person after these signs take place, do 00:08:35.314 --> 00:08:37.684 what must be done for God is with you. 00:08:38.524 --> 00:08:40.804 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. 00:08:41.254 --> 00:08:45.634 I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. 00:08:46.084 --> 00:08:50.794 You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions. 00:08:52.024 --> 00:08:56.944 As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all 00:08:56.944 --> 00:08:59.404 Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day. 00:09:00.274 --> 00:09:04.024 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibbon, they saw a group of 00:09:04.024 --> 00:09:05.524 prophets coming toward them. 00:09:06.064 --> 00:09:11.464 Then the spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul and he too began to prophesy. 00:09:12.154 --> 00:09:15.424 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed 00:09:15.574 --> 00:09:18.394 What is even Saul, a prophet. 00:09:18.814 --> 00:09:23.854 How did the son of Kish become a prophet and one of those standing 00:09:23.854 --> 00:09:28.474 there said, can anyone become a prophet no matter who his father is? 00:09:29.344 --> 00:09:34.684 So that is the origin of the saying is even Saul, a prophet, when 00:09:34.684 --> 00:09:38.314 Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. 00:09:38.824 --> 00:09:39.904 Where have you been? 00:09:40.354 --> 00:09:42.454 Saul's uncle asked him and his servant. 00:09:43.204 --> 00:09:44.854 We were looking for the donkeys. 00:09:45.004 --> 00:09:48.994 Saul replied, but we couldn't find them, so we went to Samuel 00:09:48.994 --> 00:09:50.464 to ask him where they were. 00:09:51.364 --> 00:09:53.254 Oh, and what did he say? 00:09:53.674 --> 00:09:54.544 His uncle asked. 00:09:55.354 --> 00:09:58.084 He told us that the donkeys had already been found. 00:09:58.384 --> 00:10:03.994 Saul replied, but Saul didn't tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom. 00:10:05.764 --> 00:10:08.614 This concludes today's immerse reading experience. 00:10:08.764 --> 00:10:09.754 Thank you for joining us.