(a) Relate how Israel asked for a King to rule them. [7 marks] (b) Identify four consequences of the King's disobedience to God. [8 marks]

(a) How Israel asked for a king (1 Samuel 8)

• When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons Joel and Abijah as judges over Israel, but they did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after gain, took bribes and perverted justice.
• Because of this, all the elders of Israel gathered and came to Samuel at Ramah.
• They said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations."
• The demand displeased Samuel, and he prayed to the Lord. The Lord told him to listen to the voice of the people, for they had not rejected Samuel but had rejected God from being king over them.
• The Lord instructed Samuel to warn them solemnly of the ways of the king who would reign over them.
• Samuel warned that the king would take their sons for his chariots and armies, their daughters as perfumers and cooks, the best of their fields, vineyards and olive orchards, a tenth of their grain and flocks, and their servants, and they would become his slaves and cry out in that day.
• But the people refused to listen, insisting, "No! but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."
• The Lord then told Samuel to hearken to their voice and make them a king, and Saul was later anointed.

(b) Four consequences of the king's disobedience to God

Saul, the first king, repeatedly disobeyed God, and the consequences were grave:

1. Rejection as king. Because he disobeyed by offering the sacrifice himself and by sparing Agag and the best of the spoil, God rejected Saul from being king.
2. Loss of the kingdom to another. The kingdom was torn from him and given to a neighbour better than he, namely David.
3. Departure of God's Spirit and torment. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit tormented him.
4. Death in battle and defeat. Saul and his sons were slain by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, and Israel suffered defeat.