Saul, Appointed King
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Over the past couple of weeks we have seen that Israel has rejected Yahweh as their supreme leader. They have cried out, saying they want a king!
Last week, we saw God show Samuel His choice for Israel’s king.
The problem is God’s choice for king really believes God has made a huge mistake. Surely God did not choose him.
Last week, we closed with the 9th verse of chapter 10.
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.
But we are going to see that Saul continues to struggle with the idea that he is going to be the first king of Israel.
If you have your Bibles, I want to challenge you to turn with me to 1 Samuel, chapter 10. And we’ll begin reading with verse 10.
When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying.
Arriving in Gibeah
Arriving in Gibeah
Saul returned to his home in Gibeah. Now, this section is going to confirm what was said back in verse 9—“all these signs were fulfilled that day.”
So verse 10 tells us that when Saul (and his servant) arrived at Gibeah several things happened:
He met a procession of prophets.
The Spirit of God came upon him in power.
That power made or caused Saul to join in and prophesy.
This confused those who knew Saul. Look at verse 11.
When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
They are shocked that Saul is prophesying.
They began to ask, “What happened to Saul?”
They are wondering if Saul is really a “prophet.” Now, one of the key marks of a prophet was that EVERYTHING they prophesied had to come true. Saul prophesied at this point in time, but was not always prophet material.
Those in his home town continued to ask questions about the transformation that they witnessed in Saul.
A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
I appreciate the way the New Living Translation presents this verse.
And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is even Saul a prophet?”
This man, who seems to have known Saul’s history, really couldn’t believe Saul was in the procession of the prophets— “Can anyone be a prophet. . .?”
After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.
Saul continued to go up to the high place—The “high place” was a place that has a high elevation. This was often a symbol of power and authority. It could also imply some measure of divine power. In the ancient world, high places, or "the heights", were viewed as abodes of the gods in some cultures—Perhaps, Saul went up to the the high place to worship Yahweh.
What we can say for sure, is that some in Saul’s family saw a huge change in him and are trying to figure out what happened. Look at verse 14.
Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?” “Looking for the donkeys,” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”
Saul’s uncle asked him, “What really happened to you out there?”
Saul’s answer, “Nothing, we were looking for dad’s donkeys.”
Saul goes on to say, “When we couldn’t find them we went and talked to Samuel.”
His uncle asks him the logical question:
Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.”
So Saul answers his uncle, but only gives him part of the story.
Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.
Samuel assured us that the donkeys had been found.
But Saul said NOTHING about the kingship.
Everyone to Mizpah
Everyone to Mizpah
Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah
Samuel summons everyone to come to Mizpah—one of the villages of Benjamin, and a know place of worship for Israel.
and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses. And you have said, ‘No, set a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”
Samuel has a message for the people that is straight from Yahweh.
It was Yahweh that brought the people out of Egypt.
It was Yahweh the delivered Israel from the powerful control of Egypt.
It was Yahweh that delivered Israel from all the other kingdoms that oppressed Israel. The word translated “oppressed” could be translated “tormented.”
NOW Israel is rejecting their God—the God who saves them out of their calamities—troubles, and distress.
Israel said—“No, set a king over us.”
So now Israel is to present themselves before Yahweh by tribe and clans.
Pointing Out their King
Pointing Out their King
When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
All the tribes come near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
Each of Benjamin’s clans come forward, and they pick the clan of Matri.
Then each of Matri’s families come forward and Kish was picked and Saul singled out—but:
Saul was not found. He’s no where to be found.
They Asked the Lord About Saul
They Asked the Lord About Saul
So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”
Has Saul arrived? or Where is Saul?
Saul has hidden himself among the baggage—lit. equipment, tools, or gear.
They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
Some men run out and bring Saul into the gathering.
They stood him among the people.
He stood a head taller than all the others.
Samuel says, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”
The people’s response, “Long live the king!”
Regulations of Kingship
Regulations of Kingship
Samuel explained to the people the regulations of the kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people, each to his own home.
Samuel explains all the regulations pertaining to a nation with a king.
He wrote down all the regulations and placed them before the Lord.
Then Samuel dismissed the people to go home.
Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.
Saul returned home to Gibeah.
And a group of valiant men—men whose hearts God had touched—returned home with him.
But not everyone was happy about Saul being chosen by God to be king over Israel. Look at verse 27.
But some troublemakers said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.
There were some troublemakers.
They didn’t believe Saul could lead them.
This caused them to despise him.
And they refused to bring him gifts—they did not believe he was worthy to be their king.
But Saul kept silent and didn’t rock the boat.
So What?
So What?
It was God who changed Saul’s heart. And today, it is God who changes hearts!
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.
Saul was afraid to accept God’s calling for his life. How about you, are you afraid to accept God’s mission for your life?
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
And we need to trust in His plan.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Saul failed to understand that it is God that would empower him to serve as king over Israel. Likewise, it is God that empowers us with both the desire and the ability to do what he wants.
For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.