A Gathering of the Tribes

The anointing of Saul as king had not been made known to the nation.

The choice of God was to be publicly manifested by lot.

For this purpose Samuel convoked the people at Mizpeh.

Prayer was offered for divine guidance; then followed the solemn ceremony of casting the lot. In silence the assembled multitude awaited the issue. . . . Saul, the son of Kish, was pointed out as the individual chosen. But Saul was not in the assembly.

Burdened with a sense of the great responsibility about to fall upon him, he had secretly withdrawn. He was brought back to the congregation, who observed with pride and satisfaction that he was of kingly bearing and noble form, being ‘higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.’ Even Samuel, when presenting him to the assembly, exclaimed, ‘See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?’ ” “Many raise the question, Why did God choose Saul as king, knowing full well the life he would lead? . . . God chose in harmony with their wishes, to prove to them: (1) that He did not limit their freedom of choice, (2) that in spite of their unwise choice He would restrain the evil influences that came with the monarchy, (3) that they must learn by experience that what a man sows he must also reap, and (4) that national departure from the path of God’s choosing does not prevent individuals within that nation from living in harmony with His will and receiving His blessing.” “While the people in general were ready to acknowledge Saul as their king, there was a large party in opposition. For a monarch to be chosen from Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes of Israel—and that to the neglect of both Judah and Ephraim, the largest and most powerful—was a slight which they could not brook. They refused to profess allegiance to Saul or to bring him the customary presents.” When a question put to God does not yield the answer you desire, how do you react?