The King We Desire

For this assignment, we are going to explore what characteristics we most value in those people who
are our leaders. The Israelites had their own ideas of what their ideal leader would be. They wanted a
king in order to be more like the nations that surrounded them and in order to have a powerful man
to lead them in battle.
In I Samuel chapters 9!", we read of the story of Saul being anointed the first king of the Israelites. In
chapter !!, we see Saul defeating a powerful enemy and gaining the confidence of the people. The
Israelites were excited about their first king# In these chapters, we see that they valued Saul$s good
looks, his si%e and his ferocity.
&hat do you look for in a leader' &e have many leaders over us throughout our lives. &e trust some,
and we have no faith in others. &hat characteristics separate the leaders we think are good from the
ones we can$t stand' (opy the table below onto a blank sheet of paper )not in your *ournal+, fill it in,
and turn it into your period$s homework tray. Samples responses have been provided in the table
below from I Samuel ,!! and from -r. .alpin$s brain to help illustrate what kinds of responses you
are expected to provide.
Characteristics I Value in a Leader Characteristics I Value in a Leader Characteristics I Value in a Leader
Character Traits
(What Best Describes Her/Him?)
Motivations
(Why Do I Want Someone to Lead Me?)
reat Deeds
(What are some !ea""y Coo" Thin#s
S/he Has $ccom%"ished? Try to thin& o'
()am%"es 'rom a !ea" Leader 'rom *our
Li'e + but it,s o&ay to -ust ma&e u% stu''
too ...)
/01-23/S
4ood3ooking )Israel$s 2ick+
Tall )Israel$s 2ick+
Shy )Israel$s 2ick+
.umble )-r. .alpin$s 2ick+
(onfident )-r. .alpin$s 2ick+
(ommanding )-r. .alpin$s 2ick+
/01-23/S
To 5e 3ike 1ll 6ther 7ations )Israel$s
2ick+
To .ave Someone to 3ead 8s Into
5attle )Israel$s 2ick+
To (onvince -e that 5eing a (hristian
Isn$t Stupid )-r. .alpin$s 2ick+
To Show -e an /xample of .ow I
6ught to 3ive )-r. .alpin$s 2ick+
/01-23/S
.e Took 9engance on the 1mmonites
and showed his ability to unite Israel
in a time of adversity )Israel$s 2ick+
.e 4ot a 2h.: in .istory and is &1;
S-1<T/< than -e 1bout /verything
2ertaining to the 5ible and
(hristianity )-r. .alpin$s 2ick+