The Crown - Episode 2 - Long Live the King

The Crown – Season One – Episode 2

Long Live the King

Today we will continue looking at the origins of the monarchy in the Old Testament. Last week we heard the Israelites cry out for a king. Today we will be in chapters 9-10 as Israel gets the king they wanted. It’s an odd story to say the least. I’m not going to read through the whole passage but here is a summary.

We are introduced to a man, Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin. They are not the most notable tribe. In fact, they are the smallest and they do have a bit of a checkered past. Already we are wondering how this is going to work out.

Kish is a man is a means and has a son, Saul – he is handsome and tall.

Kish sends Saul and a servant on a mission to find some donkeys who have wandered off.

They go searching and wander through the countryside with no luck.

Saul wants to give up thinking his father will be worried, but the servant suggests they seek out a man of God who is nearby. Maybe he can help.

Saul objects because he has no gift to give the man of God, but the servant has come prepared. He has some money to give the man of God as a gift.

They approach the city and encounter women collecting water and ask about the prophet. They say he’s on his way and directs Saul and the servant to go up into the city. There’s a meal about to take place and the party can’t start until the prophet blesses the food.

The prophet of course is Samuel, and he has already been told by God the day before that the new king will meet him in the city.

Saul and Samuel do meet, and Samuel invites Saul to the meal and Saul finds out that he is the guest of honor.

Samuel tells Saul he knows all about the donkeys and not to worry – they are safe and sound.

Samuel tells Saul that he is the one the nation has been looking for.

He tells Saul to stay the night and we’ll talk more.

The next day Samuel sends the servant away so he and Saul can talk.

In a private ceremony he anoints Saul with oil and declares him as ruler of the nation.

To confirm this appointment Samuel tells Saul that on his way home three things will happen. (1) He will be met by two men who will tell you the donkeys have been found and your father is indeed worried about you. (2) Then you will meet three men who will offer you two loaves of bread. And (3) You will meet a procession of prophets and the Spirit of the Lord will come over you and you will be changed into a different person.

Samuel then tells Saul he will meet him again in seven days.

All these things happen just like Samuel said.

After an undisclosed period of time Samuel calls a national meeting in Mizpah. This is the day when Samuel will go public with the news of Saul.

To determine the new ruler, Samuel draws lots – not uncommon for that time. The lot falls to the tribe of Benjamin. Then the clan that Kish belongs to. And then to the family of Kish. And then – drum-roll please – to Saul!

But where is Saul? He is nowhere to be found.

They inquire of the Lord and find Saul hidden among the supplies.

They grab him and bring him in front of everyone. There he is – taller than all the other people. Samuel says, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

Isn’t that one of the most bizarre beginnings to a monarchy you’ve ever heard of?

One commentator says this:

First Samuel 9 depicts the comical choosing of Saul as the king the people wanted. This story reads like a comedy rather than a dignified tale of heroism, class, and valor.

Greear, J. D., & Thomas, H. A. (2016). Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel (p. 94). Holman Reference.

Another says this:

This is hardly an auspicious beginning for a ruler in the making..

Van Wijk-Bos, J. W. H. (2020). The Road to Kingship: 1-2 Samuel (Vol. 2, p. 77). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

What do we learn about God and ourselves?

God is in Control

The story is first and foremost about Yahweh, not Saul or Samuel or even Israel. God is the guiding hand behind all that occurs in this passage.

Arnold, B. T. (2003). 1 & 2 Samuel (p. 168). Zondervan.

This is so different from our political process. There are no campaign managers. No speeches wrought with promises. No “Vote for Saul” stickers. Saul doesn’t even seem like he wants the job!

God is orchestrating this whole process. The donkeys get lost. Saul went to find them. The servant knows Samuel is nearby. Samuel knew the day before that Saul would be seeking him out. Everything that Samuel said will happen, happens.

We may wonder why Saul is chosen. Outside of his good looks and height (which are hardly good reasons to make someone king) Saul demonstrates zero capability as a leader. But there is no doubt that Saul is the man God wants for the job.

We doubt some time. We wonder why things are as they are. Many times we don’t know the answer but the answer is never, “God has lost control. “

God works through the Mundane

This all started with some lost donkeys. God uses lost donkey’s to being about the coronation of the first king of Israel. God uses ordinary circumstances and does extraordinary things.

An awareness that God is at work in the world today should make believers more sensitive to his unexpected and unseen influence in our everyday lives. Not that we should look for the spectacular and miraculous around every bend. But we should recognize and acknowledge his work in our own lives and in those around us. Saul and his servant were casually looking for his father’s lost donkeys when God unexpectedly visited him through the prophet. Abraham was resting by the entrance to his tent when God paid him a visit (Gen. 18). Moses was pasturing sheep when God came and called him to service (Ex. 3). God does not miraculously send us a prophetic word every day or meet us in a burning bush. Nevertheless, we should learn to be faithful while attending to the routine, the ordinary, and the familiar. For in these, God often leads and directs his people.

Arnold, B. T. (2003). 1 & 2 Samuel (p. 173). Zondervan.

You may feel like your life is mundane. Maybe you feel like your job is nothing more than looking for lost donkeys. God uses the ordinary rhythms of life to bring him glory. You can bring his glory into the lives of people you work with. People you see every day. Strangers that happen across your path. You never know how God is working so don’t think that your mundane life is beyond God using it.

Brother Lawrence was a 17th century monk who had the very nonspiritual task of washing dishes in his monastery. Yet through the experience he discovered some insights into the spiritual disciplines. I have just begun reading his short little book, The Practice of the Presence of God and came across this nice quotation that I think is helpful, at least to me,

“[Brother Lawrence] thought it was a shame that some people pursued certain activities (which, he noted, they did rather imperfectly due to human shortcomings), mistaking the means for the end. He said that our sanctification does not depend as much on changing our activities as it does on doing them for God rather than for ourselves.

The most effective way Brother Lawrence had for communicating with God was to simply do his ordinary work. He did this obediently, out of a pure love of God, purifying it as much as was humanly possible. He believed it was a serious mistake to think of our prayer time as being different from any other. Our actions should unite us with God when we are involved in our daily activities, just as our prayers unite us with him in our quiet devotions.”

https://thegroundbeneathyourfeet.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/brother-lawrence-on-prayer-and-doing-the-dishes/#:~:text=Brother%20Lawrence%20was%20a%20monk,washing%20dishes%20in%20his%20monastery.

Jesus teaches this same concept as well:

Matthew 25:37–40 (NIV) — 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 10:42 (NIV) — 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Colossians 3:17 (NIV) — 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

You never know when a day starts out looking for donkeys turns into a coronation ceremony. Be faithful even in the mundane. While you are looking for donkeys, be on the lookout for God.

God empowers Saul

Saul has no training. He may not even have the desire. In spite of that God empowers him.

1 Samuel 10:6–7 (NIV) — 6 The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.

God is not setting Saul up for failure. He is setting his up for success. What Saul does with this opportunity, we will see in the coming weeks. But if Saul doesn’t succeed it’s not because God isn’t giving him the chance.

This same Spirit is given to each one of us. If we are struggling it’s not because God is not empowering us.

1 John 4:4 (NIV) — 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Romans 8:31 (NIV) — 31 If God is for us, who can be against us?

You may feel overwhelmed by temptation – you are not.

You may feel helpless in your spiritual life – you are not.

You may feel unprepared to live out God’s call in your lives – you are not.

You have the Spirit of God.

1 Samuel 10:9 (NIV) — 9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart.

Maybe that’s it. Maybe instead of everything else around us needing to change, maybe your heart has to change. Maybe your heart towards a certain person needs to change. Maybe your heart needs to change about your job. Maybe your heart about yourself needs to change. Maybe you feel inadequate – well, you are. But God says, “Give me your heart and let’s see what we can do.”