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{{DOD-March}}
Today's reading covers the renewal of the kingdom. [[Saul]] returned home and was actually hesitant to talk about his great experience. Keep in mind that this was at the beginning of the kingdom, when everything was new, [[Samuel]] was still the spiritual ruler of the land, and he and [[Saul]] were waiting for [[God]]'s leading concerning the future of the nation. The nation did not have modern means of transportation or communication, and it would take months for [[Saul]] and [[Samuel]] to unite and rally the people. Saul's first opportunity came when Nahash threatened the nation. The [[Spirit]] of [[God]] came on him mightily and he utterly defeated the enemy. Certainly this national [[victory]] put [[Saul]] before the people and established his power. Some of his associates wanted [[Saul]] to kill those [[Israel]]ites who had opposed his reign, but [[Saul]] showed humility and restraint by giving the glory to the [[Lord]] and refusing to take vengeance on others.
This [[victory]] was the occasion for a renewal of the kingdom and a rededication of the nation. [[Samuel]] reviewed his own ministry and reminded the people that he had been faithful to them and to the [[Lord]]. He then reviewed the history of the nation and led the people to see that they had greatly sinned against the [[Lord]] by asking for a king. He called for rain to show the people his own [[faith]] and the power of [[God]], and the sudden storm in harvest (an unusual thing at that time of the year) brought fear to the people. They admitted their [[sin]] and [[Samuel]] reassured them of [[God]]'s [[grace]].
