LESSON 39
The First king Wey Rule Israel
Jehovah give Israel people judge wey dey lead dem, but dem sey dem want king. Dem tell Samuel sey: ‘All the country wey dey around us get king. We want our own king.’ Samuel pray to Jehovah about the matter because e see sey na bad thing dem talk. But Jehovah tell am sey: ‘No be you dem sey dem no want. Na me dem no want. Tell dem sey dem go get king, but e go dey collect many things from their hand.’ But even as e tell dem like that, Israel people still talk sey: ‘We no want hear. Wetin we know be sey, we want king.’
Jehovah tell Samuel sey na one man wey dem dey call Saul go be Israel first king. One day wey Saul go see Samuel for Ramah, Samuel pour oil for im head to make am Israel king.
After some time, Samuel call all the people make e show dem their new king but e no see Saul. You know why? Because e hide imself for where dem pack bag put. When dem later see am, dem put am for their middle. But e tall pass all of dem and e fine no be small. Samuel tell the people sey: ‘Make una see una king wey Jehovah don choose.’ The people come shout sey: ‘Make the king live forever!’
Saul first dey obey Jehovah, but as time dey go e come change. For example, Saul no suppose burn sacrifice to Jehovah, but e do am. Samuel wey be Jehovah prophet tell am sey make e wait for am sey e dey come, but Samuel no quick come. Na im Saul go burn the sacrifice. Wetin you think sey Samuel go do? E tell Saul sey: ‘You for listen to Jehovah!’ You think sey Saul learn anything from wetin happen?
After some time, Saul come go fight Amalek people. Samuel tell am sey make e kill everybody for the fight. But Saul no gree kill Agag, wey be Amalek king. Jehovah come tell Samuel sey: ‘Saul don leave me, e no dey hear my word.’ Samuel no happy at all, na im e tell Saul sey: ‘Because you stop to dey obey Jehovah, e go choose another king.’ As Samuel dey waka leave am, na im Saul drag Samuel cloth. The cloth come tear for bottom. Samuel come tell am sey: ‘Jehovah don comot the kingdom from your hand.’ Jehovah go give the kingdom to person wey go love and obey am.
‘To obey better pass sacrifice.’—1 Samuel 15:22