Trusting God: Lessons from Saul's Kingship Journey

Today, we continued exploring the life of Samuel and the pivotal moment when Israel demanded a human king. The people’s desire for a king was rooted not in wisdom or faith, but in a longing to be like the surrounding nations. They rejected God as their true King, seeking security and identity in human leadership. God, in His patience, allowed them to have what they asked for—not out of spite, but to let them learn firsthand the consequences of misplaced trust.

Saul, the man chosen to be Israel’s first king, fit the people’s criteria perfectly: tall, strong, from a respected family. He looked the part, and at first, things seemed to go well. But God’s warning was clear—any king other than Himself would ultimately disappoint. Saul’s story begins with humility and uncertainty, but as we know, that humility would not last. Still, in these early moments, God’s interaction with Saul reveals much about His own character and how He deals with us, even when we make poor choices.

God gave Saul three signs as he stepped into his new role. First, God showed that He could solve Saul’s problems—reminding him that the lost donkeys were already found, and that God is always able to handle what concerns us. Second, God provided for Saul’s needs, as strangers would offer him bread on his journey. This was a tangible reminder that God is our provider, able to meet our needs in unexpected ways. Third, God promised to empower Saul by His Spirit, enabling him to do things he could never do on his own. Saul would prophesy, not because of his own ability, but because of God’s power working through him.

These truths are not just for Saul, but for all of us. God is faithful, even when we are not. He desires to walk with us, to provide for us, to solve our problems, and to do through us what we could never do alone. Our part is simply to follow Him, to trust in His promises, and to rely on His Spirit. As we send our students and leaders to camp this week, let’s commit to praying for them, trusting that God will move powerfully in their lives—just as He desires to move in ours.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Faithfulness Remains Even When We Reject Him God’s response to Israel’s rejection was not vindictive, but patient and instructive. He allowed them to experience the consequences of their choices, yet continued to provide guidance and opportunity for relationship. Even when we turn away or seek fulfillment elsewhere, God’s faithfulness and desire for our good never waver. [19:23]
• 2. God Solves Problems We Cannot Fix on Our Own When Saul was worried about the lost donkeys, God had already resolved the issue before Saul even knew it. This demonstrates that God is intimately aware of our needs and is able to handle the problems that seem overwhelming to us. Trusting God means believing He is already at work in the situations that trouble us most. [29:16]
• 3. God Provides for Our Needs in Unexpected Ways Saul and his servant were out of food, yet God arranged for strangers to offer them bread on their journey. God’s provision often comes from places and people we do not anticipate, reminding us that He is Jehovah Jireh—the Lord who provides. Our role is to remain open and receptive to the ways God chooses to meet our needs. [31:24]
• 4. God Empowers Us to Do What We Cannot Do Alone Saul was not a prophet, yet God’s Spirit enabled him to prophesy. This is a powerful reminder that God equips us for tasks beyond our natural abilities when we rely on Him. The history of God’s people is filled with ordinary individuals accomplishing extraordinary things through the power of the Holy Spirit. [32:29]
• 5. Following God Means Trusting His Promises and Walking in Obedience God’s invitation to Saul—and to us—is simple: follow Me. He promises to be with us, to provide, to solve our problems, and to work through us. Our responsibility is to trust Him enough to obey, even when we don’t see the whole picture, believing that His faithfulness will never fail. [38:08]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Series Recap: Speak Lord and Samuel’s Role
• [03:45] - Israel’s Demand for a Human King
• [07:30] - The Consequences of Rejecting God as King
• [16:09] - Childhood Story: Learning from Consequences
• [19:23] - Israel’s Choice and God’s Response
• [21:24] - Saul: The People’s Ideal King
• [22:37] - The Search for the Lost Donkeys
• [23:41] - Saul Meets Samuel
• [27:59] - God’s Signs to Saul
• [29:16] - God Solves Our Problems
• [31:24] - God Provides for Our Needs
• [32:29] - God Empowers Us by His Spirit
• [36:27] - God’s Faithfulness Despite Rejection
• [38:08] - The Call to Follow and Trust God
• [39:57] - Camp Prayer Commitment
• [42:12] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Reading

1 Samuel 8:4-22 — Israel demands a king and God instructs Samuel to listen to the people, warning them of the consequences.

1 Samuel 9:1–10:9 — The story of Saul’s search for the donkeys, his meeting with Samuel, and the signs God gives to confirm Saul as king.

Observation Questions

1. What reasons did the Israelites give for wanting a human king, and how did God respond to their request? ([19:23])
2. What qualities did Saul have that made him the people’s ideal choice for king? ([21:24])
3. What were the three signs God gave to Saul as he stepped into his new role, and what did each sign mean? ([27:59])
4. How did Saul react when Samuel told him that all of Israel’s hopes were focused on him? ([23:41])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God allowed Israel to have a king, even though it wasn’t His original plan for them? What does this reveal about God’s character? ([19:23])
2. How does Saul’s initial humility contrast with what we know about his later life? What might this say about the dangers of misplaced trust or pride? ([23:41])
3. What do the three signs given to Saul (the found donkeys, the bread from strangers, and the Spirit coming upon him) teach us about how God interacts with His people? ([27:59])
4. In what ways does God’s faithfulness show up, even when His people reject Him or make poor choices? ([36:27])

Application Questions

1. The Israelites wanted a king to be like everyone else. Are there areas in your life where you’re tempted to seek security or identity in something other than God? What are they, and how can you shift your trust back to Him? ([19:23])
2. Saul worried about the lost donkeys, but God had already solved the problem. Is there a situation in your life right now that feels out of control? How can you trust that God is already at work, even if you can’t see it? ([29:16])
3. God provided for Saul’s needs in an unexpected way—through strangers offering bread. Can you think of a time when God provided for you in a way you didn’t expect? How did that experience shape your faith? ([31:24])
4. Saul was empowered by God’s Spirit to do something he couldn’t do on his own. Is there something you feel God is calling you to do that feels beyond your ability? What would it look like to rely on God’s power instead of your own? ([32:29])
5. God’s invitation to Saul was simple: “Just follow Me.” What does following God look like for you this week? Is there a specific step of obedience or trust you sense God asking you to take? ([38:08])
6. The sermon mentioned praying for students and leaders going to camp, trusting God to move in their lives. Who is someone in your life you can commit to praying for this week, asking God to work powerfully in them? ([39:57])
7. When have you experienced the consequences of a choice that wasn’t God’s best for you? How did God show His faithfulness to you in that season? ([16:09])