Saul
The appointment of King Saul is perplexing. God uses divine intervention to anoint Saul, telling the prophet Samuel who to choose, but demonstrating to the people by using random lots! (1 Sam 10:20) Saul demonstrates his quality by saving the people of God, yet, Samuel then shows how the people sinned in asking for a king, and demonstrates the truth of his words via divine intervention. (1 Sam 12:16ff) I understand that God is responding to the people's request. I can't always understand why he does! It's not just their story that worries me, what about our own! Does the end justify the means? Is the outcome proof God was happy with the process? We live in a success-driven society, it's easy to fall into "worldly metrics", we often judge not according to God's economy. The Pharisee's lived a privileged life, and felt they were in God's will, Jesus challenged that assumption and pointed the way to make the truth real. We need to allow ou