Written by: James Myles - Crosslinks
1
Samuel 9 v 14-17
Saul and the servant went up to the town. Just
as they entered it, they saw Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the
place of worship.
The day before Saul came, the LORD had told Samuel: “About this time tomorrow
I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Appoint him to lead my people
Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines. I have seen the suffering
of my people, and I have listened to their cry.”
When Samuel first saw Saul, the LORD said to Samuel, “This is the man I told
you about. He will organize my people.”
Notes
Saul and Samuel see each other for the first time. For both of them, the meeting
is filled with anticipation, but for quite different reasons. Samuel has been
told by God that he is to appoint Saul as Israel's first king. Meanwhile Saul is
hoping that Samuel (whom he does not recognise at this point) will be able to
help him track down his father's lost donkeys! (See 1 Samuel 9:3-6)
Saul had no idea what plans God had for him. As you live your life this week
remember that God's plans for you may be very different, perhaps much greater,
than you imagine. Pray for him to bless your meetings with other people, and
look out for him speaking to you through them.
Samuel had been leading the people of Israel and was now to hand over to this
new man. How did he feel when he set eyes for the first time on the one who was
to be Israel's first king? From the text we can see how clearly God speaks to
Samuel, and this is one of the hallmarks of Samuel's life, his ability to listen
to God. This didn't happen overnight, however: one of the first accounts of
Samuel in the Bible shows that he didn't recognise God's voice at all... It was
only with time and experience that he learnt to listen and hear God as clearly
as he does in this account.
Don't despair if you find it hard to recognise God's voice. As it says in
today's passage, God sees what situation you are in and listens to what you say.
If you cry out to him he will answer.
1
Samuel 9 v 18-23
Saul approached Samuel at the gate and said,
“Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
Samuel answered, “I am the seer. Go with me to the place of worship. Today you
and your servant are to eat with me. Tomorrow morning I will answer all your
questions and send you home. Don’t worry about the donkeys you lost three days
ago, because they have been found. Soon all the wealth of Israel will belong to
you and your family.”
Saul answered, “But I am from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in
Israel. And my family group is the smallest in the tribe of Benjamin. Why are
you saying such things?”
Then Samuel took Saul and his servant into a large room and gave them a choice
place at the table. About thirty guests were there. Samuel said to the cook,
“Bring the meat I gave you, the portion I told you to set aside.”
Notes
Saul must have been taken aback by Samuel's recognition of him and knowledge
of his situation. He was even more astonished by his revelation that all the
wealth of Israel would belong to him and his family. Saul came from the smallest
family in the smallest tribe of the nation, so Samuel's claim must really have
sounded wild. Saul is not showing some kind of false humility; he genuinely
doesn't understand what Samuel can mean.
Over and over again in his word we see how God uses the apparently 'small' and
insignificant people or events to achieve his purposes. The priorities of the
world are turned around and it is clear that God is in control. In the society
of Israel the smallest tribe of Benjamin would not have been looked to for
leadership or great achievement. Yet God singles out the smallest family within
that tribe and chooses a king from them.
At this point Samuel hasn't told Saul that he is to be king, just that he is to
have 'all the wealth of Israel'. He is only gradually revealing to Saul what
God's special purposes are for him. As Saul is offered the seat of honour at a
lavish dinner party, he must be wondering what this is all about.
Even if you think you are insignificant or a bit of a failure, remember that
there are no losers in God's family. He seems to take special joy in using what
the world sees as weak and showing his own greatness through them. In the same
way, don't despise other people for being small or weak. Imagine how God sees
them and you may get a surprise!
1
Samuel 9 v 24-27
So the cook took the thigh and put it on the
table in front of Saul. Samuel said, “This is the meat saved for you. Eat it,
because it was set aside for you for this special time. As I said, ‘I had
invited the people.’ ” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
After they finished eating, they came down from the place of worship and went to
the town. Then Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. At dawn they
got up, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof. He said, “Get up, and I will
send you on your way.” So Saul got up and went out of the house with Samuel.
As Saul, his servant, and Samuel were getting near the edge of the city, Samuel
said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay, because I
have a message from God for you.”
Notes
Imagine how you would feel if someone took you to a pre-prepared room full
of guests and a beautiful meal and said that it had all been set aside for you
'for this special time' - even though you had never met before, you had not said
you were coming and you knew about nothing to celebrate! How would you feel?
Honoured? Embarrassed? Suspicious? Would you be looking for hidden cameras or
would you suspect a case of mistaken identity?
From Samuel's actions, Saul realises that he is the guest of honour and that
something special is afoot! But he still has no idea that Samuel means to anoint
him king of Israel at God's instigation. However, he accepts Samuel's invitation
and spends time with him alone afterwards. We're not told what Samuel says or
what Saul's reaction is, but no doubt Saul was being prepared to hear God's
message to him the next day. This message was to be so important that Saul had
to hear it completely in private without even his servant present. No one was to
know yet that Saul was to be king, and the actual naming of him as king would
take place in public later when all the people were present.
Today's reading builds up the tension and expectation before Samuel finally
tells Saul what God has to say. This message is to change the life of Saul and
the people of Israel because it is God's call for him to lead them. God's call
on your life, if you respond to it, will transform the lives of you and those
around you. You may not fully realise how that will work out, and it may not
involve becoming a king (!), but in God's hands your life is infinitely valuable
and influential.
1
Samuel 10 v 1-2
Samuel took a jar of olive oil and poured it on
Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “The LORD has appointed you to lead
his people. After you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb
on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you
were looking for have been found. But now your father has stopped thinking about
his donkeys and is worrying about you. He is asking, “What will I do about my
son?” ’
Notes
Samuel anoints Saul and in this way marks him out as chosen by God for the
task of king. Saul is appointed to lead, but it's important to note that the
people he will lead are not his, but God's. He has a responsibility to lead, but
it is God who is in ultimate charge. This is both a relief and a warning for us
when we do something for God, however big or small. You can trust that God will
help you and that in the end it is his responsibility to bring results - you can
only do your best and let him work through you. We must also remember that if
God does call us to lead in some way, there is no place for arrogance or bossing
others around since he is the one who made both us and them.
We can only imagine Saul's reaction as he finally learns what God has called him
to do. Samuel gives him various signs to look for which will confirm to him that
this is all true. The first sign is mentioned here giving a particular place and
people so that Saul will know when it happens that this is no coincidence. Saul
is also reminded of the donkeys and his father: having been anointed king of
Israel he is now brought back to reality! Life goes on and even though his is
going to change radically, he still has to deal with its everyday events and
relationships.
Have you got big decisions to make or think that God may be calling you to do
something in particular? Ask God to make things clear to you at the right time
and thank God that whatever happens, he remains in control.
1
Samuel 10 v 3-5
“Then you will go on until you reach the big
tree at Tabor. Three men on their way to worship God at Bethel will meet you
there. One man will be carrying three goats. Another will be carrying three
loaves of bread. And the third will have a leather bag full of wine. They will
greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you must accept. Then you
will go to Gibeah of God, where a Philistine camp is. When you approach this
town, a group of prophets will come down from the place of worship. They will be
playing harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.
Notes
Samuel is continuing to give Saul signs to look for, confirming him as God's
choice as King of Israel. These signs may not mean much to, but for Saul they
would have had great significance. The men on their way to Bethel had certain
food as a worship offering. To give the loaves of bread away was a sign of great
honour and allegiance to the one who received them. This would encourage Saul
that the people of Israel were going to accept him as their leader. In turn Saul
had to accept the bread as a sign he accepted the task God had given him.
Gibeah was Saul's home town. He must have had mixed reactions to what Samuel was
telling him. It would be an encouragement to Saul that the group of prophets
would play music and prophesy, but also the grim reality that Israel had enemies
and that as leader he would be expected to deal with them. As someone who
obviously had no clue that leadership was coming his way this would require a
major change in thinking. Israel had never had a king before, so he had no job
description, and had no real predecessor to learn from.
Are there ever times when you think God is asking too much of you? Do you ever
think he must be joking?! Take encouragement from Saul, who though he must have
had huge questions about what Samuel was telling him, had the faith to do what
he was asked. Take heart that God understands you and what he's asking you to
do, and he doesn't abandon you either. He is the God of Bethel mentioned in
today's reading, a place symbolic to the people of Israel of God's presence with
them and care for them.
1
Samuel 10 v 6-8
Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you
with power. You will prophesy with these prophets, and you will be changed into
a different man. After these signs happen, do whatever you find to do, because
God will help you.
“Go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come down to you to offer whole burnt
offerings and fellowship offerings. But you must wait seven days. Then I will
come and tell you what to do.”
Notes
I wonder if Saul was excited or alarmed when Samuel said these things to
him?! Change is frightening for a lot of people, especially when it involved
themselves so directly. When God's Spirit moves there is always change and this
is perhaps most clearly seen in the lives of people. In Saul's case this
encounter with the Holy Spirit was to have dramatic and immediate effect. In
your own life you may not have seen such a radical outward change, but you can
be sure that God's Spirit is at work in you if you're following Jesus Christ.
You are being changed into a different man or woman even if you can't see it.
Until now Samuel has told Saul specifically what he should do. Now he gives Saul
the responsibility of deciding what to do, but with the promise that God will
help him. Older Christians sometimes complain that knowing God's will gets more
difficult as they go on, rather than easier! It does seem to be true that we
might experience clear leading from God when we are young Christians, but that
later it isn't always so clear. God wants us to take responsibility and make our
own decisions using the character and gifts he is growing in us. As we become
changed people, more and more like Jesus, we are more and more able to apply the
Bible to our own situations and to see how Jesus would have acted. Of course,
God doesn't just leave us on our own and expect us to get on with it alone - as
with Saul he promises that he will help.
1
Samuel 10 v 9-13
When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed
Saul’s heart. All these signs came true that day. When Saul and his servant
arrived at Gibeah, Saul met a group of prophets. The Spirit of God rushed upon
him, and he prophesied with the prophets. When people who had known Saul before
saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What has
happened to Kish’s son? Is even Saul one of the prophets?”
A man who lived there said, “Who is the father of these prophets?” So this
became a famous saying: “Is even Saul one of the prophets?” When Saul
finished prophesying, he entered the place of worship.
Notes
God was at work in Saul's heart to change him and equip him for the task
ahead. The signs which Samuel had given to Saul to confirm his choice as king
had all come true, and here we read about the last of these in more detail. We
also see the first hint of opposition or scepticism towards Saul. No one knows
at this point that he is to be king, except for himself and Samuel, and it must
have been quite daunting for Saul to enter his home town, Gibeah, as a changed
person.
In your own Christian commitment, do you ever feel daunted about what others
will think, especially those who know you best? It is often with close family
and friends that it is most difficult to show we are Christians, and sometimes
they can be the most sceptical about whether we have really changed or not! Just
as God was at work in Saul's heart, though, so too does he promise to be at work
in the hearts of all those who follow him. You don't have to bend over backwards
to try to convince everyone you're different; just keep trusting Jesus and let
his Spirit do the rest. Saul had changed dramatically in that he was suddenly
prophesying, but still those around were scornful and made sarcastic comments.
They found it hard to believe that someone from such a small, insignificant
family could be changed by God so dramatically, but not long after they would
see him being made king in front of the whole nation. People today often find it
hard to believe that God can change people, but when they are faced with the
daily life of a Christian they know they may eventually be convinced that there
must be something in it!
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken
from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by
Word Publishing Milton Keynes