The beloved physician Luke wrote, “when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “afterward they desired a king” where we read:
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis,
a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
The verse begins, “And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, ...” Luke began with the words, “and afterward” which means “and following the time of the judges” “they desired a king” or “the people of Israel wanted, craved and demanded a royal leader of the people, prince, commander and lord of the land”: “and God” which refers to “and the Heavenly Father God” “gave unto them” which means “granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied to the people of Israel” “Saul” whose name means “desired” “the son of Cis” which means “the male offspring and prodigy belonging to Kish whose name means a snare”. Luke shared how the people of Israel demanded a “king”, so “the Heavenly Father God” provided “King Saul” who was “Kish's” son.
The verse continues, “... a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.” Luke added the words, “a man of the tribe of Benjamin” which means “a male human being from the clan or kindred belonging to Benjamin whose name means son of the right hand or son of good fortune” “by the space of forty years” or “for a forty year length of time”. Luke shared how “Saul” was from the “kindred or clan” known as “Benjamin” and served as “king” of Israel for “forty years”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the people of Israel were not satisfied with “judges” from God, (See 1 Samuel 8), so they wanted “Samuel” to provide them with a “king” like the other nations around them. God provided them with “Saul” who was from the “tribe of Benjamin”, and he, according to Paul, served them for “forty years”. This was another step in the process for bringing God's Son Jesus to the earth so He could die for the sins of mankind. God loves people and wants a relationship with each of them through His Son Jesus. Anyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words understand, even the granting of a “king” was part of God's plan to redeem mankind from their sins.
Next time Luke shares how Paul refers to how God, “raised up unto them David to be their king”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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