March 22, 2026 - 1 Samuel 11-15

Chapter 8 tells the story of Israel’s demand for a king, and the succeeding verses tell about Saul and his anointing as king.  Before Samuel died, he addressed King Saul and the people, declaring, “If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well.  But if you will not . . .” (12:14-15).  Well, if not, things would not go well for the people.  Saul did fight the Philistines and brought military victories to the people but he offered an unlawful sacrifice and was disobedient in many ways so that God ultimately rejected Saul and put David in Saul’s place as king.  Ups and downs.  Days of faithfulness and victories but times of unfaithfulness and oppression by Israel’s enemies.  Can God’s promises ever be fulfilled?  I mean, look what he had to work with in the people of Israel!  And with us!  Often, not so faithful was Israel nor we.  God, on the other hand . . .

Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with thee.

Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness,

Great is thy faithfulness,

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed thy hand hast provided;

Great is thy faithfulness,

Lord unto me.   --Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)