MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Rise and Fa T
he story of King sonality. He was considerate Saul begins with the and sensitive to the feelings people of Israel's of his parents. "When they rejection of the prophet came to the land of Zuph, Samuel's sons becoming Saul said to his servant who the new leaders or judges was with him, ‘Come, and of Israel following Samulet us return, lest my father el's death. Israel decides ceases to be concerned about they want a king like the the donkeys and become nations around them have. anxious for us’" (v. 5). God's choice for a new Saul was not only respectking is a young man by the ful of his parents but of the name of Saul. This is an excommands of God as well. cellent choice for several rea- He was sent by his father on sons. "Now there was a man an errand to find missing of Benjamin whose name donkeys. He sought out the was Kish the son of Abiel… a prophet Samuel to get his mighty man of valor. And he counsel. A little later, Saul had a son whose name was was granted the blessing of Saul, a choice and handsome the Holy Spirit and became man, and there was not a one of the prophets himself. more handsome person than Perhaps the most importhe among the sons of Israel; ant quality Saul possessed from his shoulders and up was humility. He was not he was taller than any of the conceited or self-important. people" (1 Samuel 9:1–2). When Samuel chose him to From this reference, we be the new king of Israel, can see Saul has a great "Saul answered and said, ‘Am pedigree; he was from a I not a Benjamite, of the great family. Saul was also smallest of the tribes of Isragifted with natural attracel, and my family the least of tiveness, so people wanted all the families of the tribe of to be around him. He was Benjamin? Why then do you healthy and without any speak to me in this way?’" (v. bodily defect. He possessed 21). He considered himself of the appearance of a leadno importance and woner, as he was both tall and dered why he was chosen. commanding in stature. On the day when Samuel Saul had an admirable per- announced Saul as the new
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Alberta Adventist News
MARCH 2021
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What began with so much potential concludes with a sad ending. King Saul goes from humble to proud, from patient to impatient, and then from selfless to jealous." king, "he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul, the son of Kish, was taken; but he could not be found when they looked for him. Therefore they inquired further of the LORD, ‘Has the man come here yet?’ So the Lord said, ‘Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage’" (10:21–22). Saul's reign begins in a promising way. He follows God's counsel and the advice of Samuel. God grants him success in his battles against the Ammonites and victory over the Philistines. However, sometime afterward, pride and self-importance begin to
