Although Saul has the outward appearance of a king, several warning signs are present, indicating that he may not serve the people as well as they would like. He is from the tribe of Benjamin rather than the tribe of Judah. He is unable to find lost donkeys; will he be able to lead men? The most concerning detail is Saul's ignorance of Samuel as the prophet in Israel. Nonetheless, the LORD reveals to Samuel that Saul is His choice for king, and Samuel begins to make this known to Saul, even with Saul's objections.

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Samuel 9:1-27.

"A Kingdom Unlike All the Nations” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Samuel. This time in Israel's history has its highs and lows, but the LORD's faithfulness never wavers. He provides His Word to be proclaimed faithfully through prophets like Samuel and Nathan. Even as princes like Saul and David sit on an earthly throne, the LORD remains King over His people, even as He does now and forever through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: [email protected]