God is preparing the shepherd to be a king. He shows his skill with a harp to Saul, his skill with a sling to Goliath and his faith in the Lord to Israel.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you ARE salt. You ARE light. Does that make any difference to you? Are you loosing the flavor of pure salt? Are you hiding the light under a basket so it can't be seen?

The beatitudes are the great manifesto of our Lord, rich in promises to those who are His disciples, but impossible to do without His Holy Spirit's indwelling presence.

Saul's unwillingness to do God's will is on display. Samuel's response is brutal, but necessary. Saul's reign is over, and God's decision is final.

Saul does foolishly while his son Jonathan does valiantly, and the stage is being set for a man after God's own heart to rule.

The temptation of Jesus wasn't to see if He would sin, but to prove that He would not. Satan tried hard, but he failed. He hasn't changed his tactics, and we have the same means by which to resist him - The Word of God.

The transition from the time of the judges to the time of the kings is completed as Saul officially is made king of Israel. They asked for it and God gave them what they asked for.

Who really needs to repent?

All those miracles, all those prophecies fulfilled; could it be that God wants us to know that the birth of Jesus is important to us today? YES!

Man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Saul learns this truth in this study of 1 Samuel, when he is given the news that God has selected him to be king of Israel.