Saul: The King

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: With no one to take your place. 00:00:05 Speaker 3: The elders and I request that you appoint the king to judge us. What do kings bring tyranny, change burden? 00:00:15 Speaker 4: Is it another pharaoh you would have? 00:00:17 Speaker 3: Over all? 00:00:19 Speaker 1: And here he stood, soul of kish, bearer of a warrior's frame, yet a stranger to the kind of battle that would test his soul. 00:00:31 Speaker 2: Oh, what do you want with me? 00:00:34 Speaker 3: It's sort about what I want. 00:00:36 Speaker 4: But the people, as it turns out, you know, the one who an entire nation has been piling after that hope is. 00:00:47 Speaker 1: When the prophet's hands steadied, he poured the oil of a soul's head. 00:00:52 Speaker 3: The Lord has appointed you. 00:00:55 Speaker 5: You will reign over these people's You will deliver them from their animations. This oil he's a sign or spirits or because a true fuck of your calling? 00:01:13 Speaker 3: How can this be? 00:01:20 Speaker 6: Sometimes the throne chooses the man before the man is ready for the throne. Shelloh, my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel, I'm l Extein with international Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Saul stands on the precipice of history, not just his own. But ours. He's called from obscurity, anointed with oil that drips down like a quiet, sacred promise, and yet he hides trembling among baggage. What kind of king hides on the day of his coronation? As the chauffar sounds and the true tribes gather, the question lingers what happens when we get what we ask for, only to find that it's not what we need? 00:02:12 Speaker 1: The sun dipped low over the rolling plains of Benjamin, casting its golden light across the fields and the grazing herds that dotted them. Saul's journey had been long, but as he approached the gates of his father's pastures, he felt none of the fatigue that burdened Tavey. 00:02:32 Speaker 4: How can you have such a hop in your step? 00:02:34 Speaker 3: I feel like we've been gone for months. 00:02:37 Speaker 1: Saul shrugged, still not willing to share Samuel's prophetic words with him. How does one simply and humbly mention that he was just anointed as the first king of Israel? Saul walked steadily, each step, carrying with it a renewed sense of purpose. The anointing oil may have long since dried on his skin, but the fire Samuel had kindled in his heart burned fiercely. For years, Saul had walked taller than his brother's, his height and strength unmatched. He had carried heavier loads, run farther, and fought harder than any man in his tribe. Yet now, for the first time, his confidence was not rooted in his own strength. He could feel God's favor upon him, a presence so overwhelming it almost made his great frame feel small beneath its weight. As he passed through the gate, the familiar sight of his father's estate came into view. The scent of stew cooking over an open flame wafted on the breeze. Saul quickened his pace. Inside the house, Kish's brother sat by the fire, poking at the embers with a stick. His uncle's sharp features lit up at the sight of Saul stepped through the door, his expression a mixture of relief and curiosity. 00:04:05 Speaker 7: Oh, where have you been? The donkers were back mere hours after you departed. What on earth could you have been doing? 00:04:15 Speaker 1: Saul embraced his uncle briefly, then sat down by the fire, stretching out his long legs. 00:04:24 Speaker 2: So we had no clue. We had no clue. The dog as a return. We looked everywhere. When we didn't find them, we saw ow Samuel, the prophet. 00:04:32 Speaker 7: Samuel himself. 00:04:34 Speaker 3: You met the man of God. 00:04:37 Speaker 4: What was he like? 00:04:38 Speaker 7: What did he tell you? 00:04:40 Speaker 1: Saul hesitated. The fire popped loudly, a burning coal tumbling out of the hearth and onto the stone floor. Saul watched it for a moment, as though entranced by the way it smoldered and glowed. He nudged it back into the flames with the toe of his sandal, then glanced up at his his uncle, his expression shifting into something easy and nonchalant. 00:05:05 Speaker 2: Ah, he told us plainly that the donkeys had been found, so we made our way back. 00:05:12 Speaker 3: There's a waste of time, really. 00:05:14 Speaker 1: His uncle's eager expression faltered, but he nodded slowly. 00:05:19 Speaker 7: Well, you'll be seeing the prophet again soon enough. Why is that the message has come to all the households of our tribe. He's called all the tribes of Israel together to Mizbar. He's going to choose the next king of Israel. 00:05:40 Speaker 1: The air at Mizbar hung heavy with anticipation, a stillness that seemed to hush even the wind beneath the cloudless sky. The twelve tribes of Israel had gathered, men, women, and children, packed shoulder to shoulder, their faces alight with curiosity and excitement. Banners bearing the symbols of the tribes flattered in the breeze, and elders stood at attention, each one representing their people. Samuel stood at the center of it all, his weathered face turned toward the heavens, his staff planted firmly in the ground beside him. He was no longer young, but there was a power in his presence that commanded respect. For decades, he had been the Lord's voice in Israel, the last of the judges. Today he was something more, an unwilling herald of change. The elders had pressed him again and again, their demands insistent. 00:06:41 Speaker 4: So, Samuel, is this the day we've been waiting for? You? Mean? Have I found you the slave master who show desperately a desire? 00:06:54 Speaker 6: No? 00:06:55 Speaker 4: I've done nothing, But the Lord, in his mysterious mercy, has chosen to give you the desires of your heart, even if those desires will lead you to ruin. 00:07:07 Speaker 1: They had ignored his bitterness, they always did, and now here they were gathered to witness the fulfillment of their demands. Samuel raised his hands high, and the murmur of the crowd fell silent. When he spoke, his voice rang out like the blast of a trumpet. 00:07:29 Speaker 3: This says the Lord God of Israel. I am the. 00:07:33 Speaker 4: One who saved you from captivity in Egypt. I delivered you from the grip of slavery and the kingdom that oppressed you. But today you have rejected the God who has saved you from so many calamities and distress us who have asked her king to replace him. 00:07:56 Speaker 1: The prophet's words lingered in the air like a judge, heavy and unyielding. A soft breeze stirred Samuel's robes, cooling the anger that burned hot in his chest. He drew a deep breath and lowered his hands. 00:08:13 Speaker 4: Present yourselves before the law, by your tribes and your clowns. 00:08:21 Speaker 1: Banners were raised higher, and people straightened their backs, eager to see who would be chosen among the tribe of Benjamin stood sore, his broad frame impossible to miss even amid the crowd. His clownsmen were abuzz, exchanging eager whispers and nudging one another, But Saul stood silent, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the ground. He knew what was coming. Samuel had told him this day would come, and now that it had, a pit of dread opened in his chest. He wasn't afraid of the mantle of kingship. It was the weight of so many eyes, the scrutiny of a nation that made his breath quicken. Would the people be disappointed it was him? Would their love turn to hatred at the first sign of trouble? Ah? Yes, that was what Saul feared most, that the people wouldn't love him. Samuel reached into his robes and drew out a small leather sack. Within it were twelve smooth stones, each carved with markings representing the tribes of Israel. He cast the lots before the people, the stones clattering on to the ground. The stone of Benjamin was chosen. 00:09:43 Speaker 3: The sign of management. Step paw. 00:09:47 Speaker 1: A murmur rippled through the crowd, and the Benjamin stepped forward. Pride etched onto their faces. Samuel's gaze swept over them, his expression unreadable. He began to organize the tribe by their clans, calling them forward one by one. When he cast the lots again, the clan of the retreats was chosen. 00:10:11 Speaker 3: The clan of Matri stepped forward. 00:10:15 Speaker 1: Saul's heart began to pound, a drum beat that echoed in his chest. He shifted uncomfortably, his broad shoulders, hunching as if he could make himself smaller. The voices of his clansmen grew louder, excitement building with each passing moment. Samuel cast the lots again, and the family of Kish was selected. 00:10:39 Speaker 3: The household of Kish step forward. 00:10:45 Speaker 1: All that remained was Kish and Saul's brothers, beaming with pride. 00:10:52 Speaker 4: Saul, where is Saul, son of Kish? 00:10:56 Speaker 1: The crowd turned, searching for the man whose had been called, but Saul was nowhere to be found. Behind a cart filled with farming tools, Saul pressed his back against the wood, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His hands trembled as he clenched them into fists. 00:11:16 Speaker 2: No, not me, not here, not now. 00:11:22 Speaker 1: The weight of what was happening bore down on him. He could feel the pull of the moment, the inevitability of it, but still he resisted. He pounded the back of his head against the cart, his mind racing. Perhaps he could run and disappear into the hills. Surely the Lord could choose another. Before he could act, a firm hand gripped his shoulder. Saul turned, startled to see his uncle standing behind him, his expression a mixture of concern and determination. Yes, all at once. The people turned, their faces lighting up. As Saul emerged from behind the cart. A wave of applause broke out, and cheers rippled through the tribes. Saul's heart thundered as he stepped forward, his head held high despite the turmoil roiling within him. He climbed onto the platform beside Samuel, his broad shoulders straight and his jaw set. The crowd gasped as they took in his towering frame, his strong arms, and his chiseled features. 00:12:33 Speaker 4: This is what they wanted, a man who looks like a king. 00:12:39 Speaker 3: They care nothing for the heart beneath the crown. 00:12:43 Speaker 1: Samuel turned to the people and raised his hand, calling for silence. He gestured to Saul. 00:12:50 Speaker 4: Look upon one, the Lord has chosen. 00:12:54 Speaker 1: The crowd irrupted into a cacophony of praise. Trumpets blared, and the voices of the people rose like a storm. Long live the King, they shouted, Long Live King Saul. Saul stood motionless, his face unreadable. As the adoration of the crowd washed over him. The shouts and cheers filled his ears. But in the midst of the noise, a small voice whispered in his mind. It was quiet but insistent, a sharp whisper that cut through the din This is for you, You deserve this. The pride he had always kept buried began to stir, creeping into the corners of his heart. As the people chanted his name, the fire of the spirit ward with the allure of his own ambition. For now, Saul said nothing. He stood tall, letting the moment consume him. But deep within the seeds of pride had been planted, and Samuel, watching from the corner of his eye, saw them begin to take root. 00:14:12 Speaker 6: Did you feel that tension, the kind of tension that makes your heart race? A mix of hope and dread. As the tribes are called forward one by one, This wasn't the story of a bold hero stepping into destiny. No, it was the story of a man called higher than he dared to climb. And we we are left wondering was this God's plan or was it the people's. In one Samuel eight, the elders of Israel had come to Samuel and said, appointed king to lead us, such as all the other nations have the chosen people who were chosen to be different, now chose just to be like everyone else. And so God had granted their He gives them Saul the man they asked for. Literally his name Shahul in Hebrew means asked for. Samuel assembles all the people for the official choosing of Saul as the first king of Israel, but suddenly no one can find him. Where's Saul? They search and search, but Saul is nowhere to be found, and they ask God, has the man arrived yet? And God answers them, behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage. We read this verse, and we say, what is going on? While the Jewish ages explained that Saul was so humble he couldn't face the moment of his being chosen king. He thought there must be some mistake, the sages then suggest that this extreme humility is exactly why Saul was qualified to be king. His power would never go to his head. And to this day that verse in Hebrew is a popular thing about someone who flees from honor. We say, is he hidden among the baggage? And as the sage is say, if one flees from honor, honor pursues him, as we find Saul at last being anointed. We should also remember that the Torah gives many commands for a king of Israel. One of them is found in Deuterotomy seventeen eighteen, and it says that the king's first responsibility is trite himself a copy of all of God's laws, essentially to write his own copy of the Torah. Now, anyone who's ever seen a Torah scroll up close can appreciate just how difficult it is to write one. It takes years of training for an expert scribe called a sofair in Hebrew to learn this precise craft. It's a profession, it's an art, and it's a skill. Because even if one les letter is missing in the entire tourist scroll, than it can't be used. The Taurus scroll is not complete, and so it's not kosher. It's not a tourist girl that can be used. So you can imagine that it takes even the most skilled scribes many months to write an entire Taurus scroll, making sure every letter is written correctly. And this is the first thing that a Jewish king was commanded to do to write a scroll of the Torah. This was to ensure that he would obey and enforce God's laws and commands rather than his own, down to every letter, and it was meant to remind the king that the source of his authority is the Torah. So the Taurist scroll that the king wrote was meant as a safeguard against arrogance, against abuse of power, and as a reminder the true purpose of a Jewish king was to serve as a moral guide and leader to his people. And here's the lesson for us as well. Power is never meant for our own personal gain. Each never one of us holds some position of power, whether it's in our families or at work, and we must constantly remind ourselves never to abuse the power that is entrusted to us. We can learn leadership lessons that are truly timeless from the Bible, and even though we may not have to write an entire Torah scroll, we should still remember God's laws and live according to them. Saul stories not just about him, It's about us. The Israelites asked for a king, but their desire revealed a deeper wound. They wanted safety, predictability, strength. They wanted a ruler they could see and touch, a tangible reassurance against their years. The Torah reminds us that God himself was Israel's king, from Sinai to the wilderness. He led with fire and cloud, sustaining his people with manna and miracles. And yet the human heart is a restless thing. We crave the visible, the immediate. It's a pattern we see again and again in the Bible and in our lives. Adam and Eve reached for the forbidden fruit, thinking it would make them wise. The people built the Tower of Babel, hoping to make a name for themselves. Each time, humanity's grasping has led to run. And yet we continue to make those same mistakes, and we see that God remains faithful through his kingship. We see the unfolding of a deeper story, one that points beyond human leaders to the divine. The story of Saul prepares us for David, and ultimately for the promise of a king who will reign with justice and mercy. So what can we learn from Saul's story? Well, first of all, it calls us to examine our desires. How often do we like the Israelites in this story ask for things that seem good on the surface but lead us away from God. Perhaps it's a job that promises security, a relationship that feels safe, for a dream that feeds our ego. Saul reminds us that not every yes from God is a sign of approval. Sometimes it's a life lesson. Second, it invites us to trust in God's timing. Waiting is hard. It was hard for Israel, and it's hard for us. Third, Paul's story challenges our understanding of leadership. In our world, we often equate greatness with power and appearance, but the Bible flips that narrative. The greatest leaders, from Moses to David were often the most unlikely choice. They weren't perfect, but they were willing to submit to God's authority, and God chose them not because they were perfect, but because they were loyal and humble. Finally, Saul's story points us to hope. It moves forward through David, through Profits, through the exile, towards the promise of redemption, and for us, our redemption is still unfolding. So, my friends, rest in this truth. God's faithfulness doesn't depend on our perfection. His plan isn't derailed by our mistakes, and his love for us is constant even when our love waivers. Let's live as people who trust not in human strength, not in appearances, but in the un unshakable goodness of our God. 00:22:04 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Yle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Gotten, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller and the team at International fellow Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.