"Behold, the Lord hath set a king over you."--_1 Samuel 12:13._
THERE was a young man named Saul, who was very tall and strong. His
father kept a number of asses; for, in the land of Israel, people rode
on asses instead of horses. One day all the asses were lost, and Saul
and one of the servants went out to look for them. They went a long,
long way, and never found the asses; and at night they came to a city,
and there they found Samuel.
Samuel was an old man now, and grey-headed; and he ruled over Israel,
and everyone honored and loved him, because he was so good and just.
Saul was very much surprised when the great and good Samuel met him,
and led him into the house, and put him in the chief place, and gave
him a choice of meat that had been set apart for him. Saul could
not think how Samuel knew anything about him. And he was still more
surprised the next morning, for then Samuel came out of the city with
him, and sent the servant on before. Then Samuel took some oil, and
poured it on Saul's head, which was what was called anointing, and told
him that God had chosen him to be king over all the people of Israel.
Was not this wonderful news for him? And you see, God had led him to
Samuel to be made king, though he so little guessed what was going
to happen when he set out to look for the asses. And God still makes
everything happen, even the least thing; it is all for our good, even
though we do not quite see why.
[Illustration: SAMUEL ANOINTING SAUL.--1 Sam. 10:1.]
So Saul was the first King of Israel; but he was only to be prosperous
as long as he would take care to obey God.