Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 118
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IMMERSE
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KINGDOMS
1S
| 12:11–13:3
our enemies.’ Then the Lord sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel
to save you, and you lived in safety.
“But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came
to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the
Lord your God was already your king. All right, here is the king you have
chosen. You asked for him, and the Lord has granted your request.
“Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if
you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your
king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God. But if you rebel
against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand
will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.
“Now stand here and see the great thing the Lord is about to do. You
know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest.
I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize
how wicked you have been in asking the Lord for a king!”
So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that
day. And all the people were terrified of the Lord and of Samuel. “Pray to
the Lord your God for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samue l. “For
now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.”
“Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done
wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart,
and don’t turn your back on him. Don’t go back to worshiping worthless
idols that cannot help or rescue y ou—they are totally useless! The Lord
will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name.
For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people.
“As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers
for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. But be
sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful
things he has done for you. But if you continue to sin, you and your king
will be swept away.”
Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-
two years.
Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest
of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash
and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jona
than to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.
Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philis
tines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul
blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise