This is the Bible Book Club. I'm Heather and I'm Susan and we're in the book of First Samuel.

Welcome to the club.

Last episode in chapters 10 through 12, God changed Saul's heart about being king and all the signs that Samuel promised to build Saul's

confidence happened. Samuel revealed God's choice for a king, but Saul was hiding among the supplies.

Then God gives Saul a military victory against the Ammonites, and the people embrace Saul as king,

and they celebrate him at Gilgall. Samuel once again warns them, though, that they and the king must not

forget to fear and serve the Lord. Then Samuel sends them a finale with thunder and lightning

courtesy of God. Yeah, he's trying to prove a point that this is not his words, but God's word.

At this moment, Saul is looking good. He kind of passed

that first test, had his first victory, and the Israelites are speculatively hopeful for hundreds

of years. And we have to kind of get ourselves in their head, the Israelites head. They've been

waiting for a promise that dates back to Genesis 3 and

verse 15, which said this, and I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your

offspring and hers. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel. So put yourselves in

their minds. They're really hopeful. God was speaking to the

serpent. The promise God made was that one day an offspring of the woman would crush the serpent.

So again, this is the history that they're familiar with. Then in Genesis 176, God promised Abraham that, I will make nations of you,

and kings will come from you. So God promised that Abraham and his nation Israel would have kings.

So think of the Israelites. Finally, they get their king. And guess what he does?

He defeats the king named snake.

Track with me here.

The king of the Ammonites was named Nahash, which means snake or serpent.

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