God's people wanted a King just like all the other countries had [VISUAL 1]. They wanted someone who was mighty and scarry, who could lead Israel out in battle and defeat their enemies. Trouble is, Israel already had a king. Mightier and scarier than any other king. God. They didn't need anyone else.
Let me tell you about how God, Israel king, protected them.
[VISUAL 2] The Philistines were Israel's worst enemy. They were big and tough and they lived right next door to Israel. They were forever coming up in battle against God's people. Israel would manage to drive them out, but sooner than you'd think possible, they'd come back again. Once, the situation looked particularly grim. The Philistines had a way bigger army. They were coming closer and closer and Israel was quaking with fear. What could they do?
There was only one sensible thing they could do. They prayed and asked their king (God) to rescue them. Samuel the prophet took a lamb and offered it as a burnt offering to God [VISUAL 3]. Do you think God would answer?
Yes, he did.
While Samuel was still offering the sacrifice, the Lord thundered from heaven with such a loud thunder against the Philistines [VISUAL 4], that their huge army was thrown into a panic and Israel easily defeated them. Just like that.
God was Israel's king. They didn't need another. [VISUAL 1] But as I told you last week, an invisible God didn't seem good enough to Israel. They wanted a king they could see. A king just like all the other countries had.
It wasn't good thing for them to ask for, but God gave them just what they wanted. A king big and impressive. Strong and scarey looking. Handsome and huge. Cross between a movie star and an overpaid Storm player...
Saul. [VISUAL 5]
A king for Israel, just like all the other countries had.
Samuel the prophet said, “Even though you have sinned by asking for a king, I will keep on praying for you and I will keep on teaching you what is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. If you keep on doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel for forty-two years. Saul was strong and he led Israel victorious in many battles, but he didn't fear the LORD and he didn't serve him faithfully with all his heart. Saul was a king just like all the other countries had. A king who liked to be boss. A king who didn't care much for God's way of doing things. A king that God would sweep away.
Let me tell you what happened. [VISUAL 2]
Once again the Philistines had gathered to fight against Israel. But more of them than ever before. Three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and more soldiers than grains of sand on the sea shore. Or so it seemed. When the people of Israel saw how bad the situation was, they hid in caves and some even ran away to other countries. Saul remained with his army and they were all quaking with fear.
What should they do? Pray? Good idea. They... almost did that.
Someone remembered about how God had saved them that last time with the big thunder. Wouldn't it be great if God would do that again! So they sent for Samuel so he could come and offer another sacrifice to God. Samuel sent word back that he was on the way, and that they should wait for him. Samuel was God's prophet and it was his job to offer sacrifices and to pray to God for the people.
So Saul's army waited for Samuel. Meanwhile, the Philistines were getting closer. They waited some more and some more... but Samuel still hadn't come.
After a while, Saul got sick of waiting. Who's in charge here? He asked himself. Who's king? Samuel or me? It's just a couple of animals. I'll kill them and burn them myself then we can go and get on with winning the battle.
Was that right? No. Offering sacrifices was Samuel's job. Not Saul's. Saul had made the mistake of thinking that he could decide what is right and wrong in Israel. He thought he didn't need to listen to God's prophet.
[VISUAL 6] So that's what Saul did. He killed the animals and burnt them up... and expected that doing that would be like a magic trick that would make God help them.
Just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Do you think he was happy? No.
Israel did not win that battle against the Philistines. Many, many of God's people were killed. A king like the other countries had was not a good king for God's people. Even though King Saul was big and strong and handsome, God swept him away just like that because he didn't remember that God was Israel's real king. Next time we'll meet the new leader that God's chosen for his people. Do you think he'll be better than Saul? We'll have to wait and see.
VISUAL 1 - This picture from last week
VISUAL 2 - This picture, clear perspex over the top
VISUAL 3 - Use the picture from visual 2. Stick a picture of a lamb onto it (under perspex) and paint red orange and yellow flames onto the wood (on the perspex) to make it look like the lamb is being sacrificed in the fire.
VISUAL 4 - Onto visual 3, paint bolts of lightening in the sky to represent God thundering from heaven
VISUAL 5 - Picture of Saul from last week
VISUAL 6 - Put a new piece of perspex over visual 2. Add an animal (maybe chop it up first with scissors for effect!) and put it into the fire. Add flames red, orange and yellow paint.
VISUAL 7 - Onto visual 6, draw a crown in the sky with a sad/angry face on it.
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