Readers'
Theater Bible Story
How Saul Was Crowned King
I Samuel 9-10
Reader: Kish was a rich,
important man from the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the tallest,
most handsome man in Israel. One day when Kish's donkeys strayed away, he
sent Saul and a servant to look for them. They traveled a long distance,
but they couldn't find them anywhere.
Saul: Let's go home. By
now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!
Servant: Wait! I've just
thought of something! There is a prophet who lives here in this city. He
is held in high honor by all of the people because everything he says comes
true. Let's go and find him and maybe he can tell us where the donkeys are.
Saul: But we don't have
anything to pay him with. Even our food is gone. We don't have a thing to
give him.
Servant: Well, I have a
dollar. We can at least offer it to him and see what happens.
Saul: All right. Let's
try it.
Reader: So they started
into the city where the prophet lived. As they were climbing a hill toward
the city, they saw some young girls going out to draw water .
Saul: Young woman, can
you tell us if the prophet is in town?
Girl: Yes, he is. Stay
right on this road. He lives just inside the city gates. He has just
arrived back from a trip to take part in a public sacrifice up on the hill.
You need to hurry, because he'll probably be leaving about the time you get
there. The guests can't eat until he arrives and blesses the food.
Reader: So they went into
the city, and as they were entering the gates they saw Samuel coming out
toward them to go up the hill. The Lord had told Samuel the day before,
"About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin.
You are to anoint him as the leader of my people. He will save them from
the Philistines, for I have looked down on them in mercy and I have heard
their cry." When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, "That's the man I told you
about. He will rule my people."
Saul: Can you please tell
me where the prophet's house is?
Samuel: I'm the prophet.
Go on up the hill ahead of me and we'll eat together. In the morning I will
tell you what you what you want to know and send you on your way. And don't
worry about the donkeys that were lost three days ago. They have been
found. Besides, you own all the wealth of Israel now.
Saul: Pardon me, sir.
I'm from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel. You must have
the wrong man!
Reader: Then Samuel took
Saul and his servant into the great hall and placed them at the head of the
table, honoring them about the thirty special guests. Samuel instructed the
chef to bring Saul the best cut of meat.
Samuel: Go ahead and eat
it. I was saving it for you, even before I invited these others.
Reader: So Saul ate with
Samuel. After the feast, when they had returned to the city, Samuel took
Saul up to the porch on the roof and talked with him there. At daybreak the
next morning.....
Samuel: Saul, get up.
It's time you were on your way!
Reader: So Saul got up,
and Samuel went with him to the edge of the city.
Samuel: Send your servant
on ahead. I have received a special message for you from the Lord.
Reader: Then Samuel took
a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head and kissed him on the
cheek.
Samuel: I am doing this
because the Lord has appointed you to be the king of His people, Israel.
When you leave me, you will see two men. They will tell you that the
donkeys have been found and that your father is worried about you. When you
get to the oak tree you will see three men coming toward you who are on
their way to worship God. One will be carrying three young goats, another
will have three loaves of bread, and the third will have a bottle of wine.
they will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to
accept. After that you will come to "God's Hill" and you will meet a group
of prophets coming down the hill. At that time the Spirit of the Lord will
come upon you and you will feel and act like a different person. From that
time on, the Lord will guide you.
Reader: As Saul said
good-bye and started to go, God gave him a new attitude, and all that Samuel
had said came true that day. Samuel called together all of the leaders of
Israel and gave them this message from the Lord....
Samuel: The Lord says, "I
brought you from Egypt and rescued you. But although I have done so much
for you, you have rejected Me and said, 'We want a king instead!' All right
then, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes."
Reader: The tribe of
Benjamin was chosen by sacred lot, and then each family of the tribe of
Benjamin was brought before the Lord. Finally the sacred lot chose Saul,
the son of Kish.
Samuel: This is the man
the Lord has chosen to be your king. There isn't his equal in all of
Israel!
All: Long live the king!
