Finding a King

Some places are more important than others. Some places that are memorable for you are a drive by or flyover zone for me. Some places become significant because of what happens there.

The Murrah Federal Building was in a neighborhood I had driven by dozens of times before Timothy McVeigh made it famous.

Milan Stadium probably means nothing to you. I attended scores of footballs games there and can’t tell you the score of one single game I attended. But it holds a place in my memory because it was the location of Ann’s and My first date.

Similarly, we read today that Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. To us that may be a scan over location. Next time you are in Israel, you probably will not ask the tour guide to take you to Mizpah.

Transition: By the time we get to today’s text, Mizpah has already been names in the Bible at least twice for both good and bad reasons. A place that may seem made up to us, may actually be a real place that offers real lessons.

Real Lessons from Real Places

Benjamin is nestled between Ephraim and Judah

This little grey area may seem insignificant to us. But the border between Benjamin and Judah is some of the most contested real estate in History.

Saul lived south of Ramah

1. Since Ramah is less than 3 miles from Gibeah it is more interesting that Saul know nothing of Samuel. This underscores how indifferent Saul was to the things of God.

2. Zuph is the area he searched for the donkeys

3. Zelzah is where sign 1 took place (2 men donkeys found)

4. Sign 2 was 3 men headed to Bethel gave him provisions

5. Sign 3 was prophecy at Gibeath-Elohim

Samuel gathered Israel in a valley near Mizpah

Mizpah is a few miles SW of Bethel, (Modern Ramallah)

Ramallah is also pronounced Ram Allah, with is why it is identified as the de facto capital of the Palestinian State that opposes Israel to this day.

Mizpah also has biblical history. Judges 20 records 3 days of battle between Benjamin and the rest of Israel. Benjamin won days 1 & 2, then God gave a strategy that defeated the Benjamites.

1 Sam 7:12 indicates that a memorial to God’s help was setup near Mizpah.

Transition: I know that Geography is only riveting or life-changing for very few people, but knowing that these are real places where we can visit and experience, gives credibility to the words we read.

What does the Scripture say?

Meeting at Mizpah (vv.17-19)

There was a valley so there was room for lots of people to camp.

It was a place where Samuel had led retreats before (7:5-6)Text

The name of the place describes what happens here. Mitzpah, Mishpaha, Mispat

Tribe, Clan, Family, ___, King (vv.20-24)

The casting of lots appears about 9x in the OT, but we really don’t know with certainty what it was (pulling of straws? Rolling of stones?) We do know that the Urim an Thummim were stones in Aaron’s robe used for discernment.

Rachel Klippenstein writes in the Lexham Bible Dictionary, “The name אוּרִים (urim) begins with aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, while the name תֻּמִים (tumim) begins with tav, the last letter of the alphabet; the names of these endpoints may stand for the whole alphabet.”[i]

2. We do know that lots were not considered random, but specific direction from God, so that Saul was named even though he wasn’t present. They knew who he was but didn’t know where to find him until they inquired of the Lord.

Rights, Return & Rebellion (vv.25-27)

Samuel deposits a document in a shrine:

The regulations no doubt included both ‘rights and duties’. In other words, it was a document which told the king what he had a right to expect from his citizens, and what his duties were, under God, towards them. Thus the king and the people were in covenant relationship with each other[ii]

2. No taxation, so Saul doesn’t have a palace to move into, he returns to his family’s estate

3. No matter how much you are “in the right”, we can always expect some naysayers.

Transition: What does this family reunion have to do with us?

So What does it mean?

God has already proven Himself to be the one the people are demanding (v.18)

1. Samuel warned them in 8:11; 9:16 says Saul would be a leader of GOD’s people and gets restated in 10:1 in a private meeting; now 10:18 Samuel declares once again that YHWH the Highest God had already done for generations what they were hoping for in an earthly king.

2. How many times do we see the cycle of God stepping in after mankind messed things up in Judges?

Saul knew what to expect, but was hiding (v.22)

I searched 7 different commentaries for some clue as to why he was hiding. The best I found was 1 that indicate he didn’t want to be king. And a second that says it is just foreshadowing of a king who would make bad choices.

He had had time to prepare himself for this moment, but seems not to have been able to see himself in the role of king, though he had now had the assurance of the prophetic anointing confirmed by the lot. Reluctantly he revealed himself to be of outstanding physique, and therefore acceptable to the people as their leader, but he did not want to be king[i]

Saul’s vacancy at his own coronation suitably foreshadows a reign that would vacate responsibilities associated with the exercise of godly rule[ii]

The people only saw what they wanted to see (v.24)

1. They convinced themselves he was special because he was tall.

2. The only thing that set him apart was his height. But height is nowhere described as honorable among the covenant people. Only non-covenant (non Jewish) people in the Hebrew Scriptures are describe by their height.

3. This was enough for them to consider that he would be a King like the other nations had.

Signs of trouble from the start (vv.26-27)

1. Valiant (valor/brave) men

a. The word valor is connected to ideas of ability and resources. Those who have the resources (either internal courage or external tools) to get something done.

b. This is literally the word that the Germans adopted to salute Adolph Hitler – חַיִל(ḥayil)(or heil). They claimed that power belonged to Hitler to eventually be victorious and they were pledging their contribution to see that his strength overcame enemies.

2. Worthless (wicked) men

a. The idea is a blow-hard or being full of hot air.

b. We all know that guy who always has a story, but rarely gets anything done.

c. The people who moan, groan and complain, but never do anything.

Think of the news outlet that is most opposed to your viewpoint. Since modern news is more about perspective than facts, much ink and airtime is given to these worthless fellows.

Teddy Roosevelt left the presidency then said: “It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause.”

d. I don’t quote Roosevelt as being more authoritative than the Bible, I mention him as someone who understood the difference between valor and worthless.

Transition: There are 2 lessons for us that I see in the last 3 verses.

Now What are we supposed to do?

1. After Saul is found, Samuel sends everyone home, but verses 26 & 27 divide the people into 2 responses.

Never confuse respect for reverence

2. There comes a time when it is right to stand behind a decision that has been made. No matter how many times Samuel had warned against a king, once the king was anointed, he deserved respect.

3. Even after David will be anointed to replace Saul, as long as God permits Saul to be King David will have nothing to do with harming the one God appointed.

1 Samuel 24:6 ESV:2016

6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.”

4. Our country has had some leaders I have voted for, and others who won without my support. But I’ve never threatened to leave because things didn’t go my way.

5. I will stand for our flag (and if God places me in another country I will stand for that flag). But I only kneel for our God!

Never surrender God-given strength

Not strength to abuse or accumulate personal power, but strength to do what is right and needs to be done.

Those who adopt a victim mindset have surrendered their strength and depend upon others to get the objective done on their behalf.

In a world where masculinity is considered toxic, certain strength comes from the touch of God.

3. Within democracy the power of the press is often described as “speaking truth to power”. Those who possess this power are described in today’s text as having their hearts touched by God.

4. Any strength (ability to stand against evil) that God entrusts to you must NEVER be surrendered in the guise of being enlightened, politically-correct, or woke.

5. Parental rights have been under attack at least since one politician made famous the phrase “it takes a village.” Villages don’t make children, God give PARENTS the ability to make children and the right to mold that child does NOT transfer to Social services or Schools or Courts unless parents abandon that role.

6. God imputes strength to humans as he did in v.26. When God gave the ability to prophecy to Saul in 10:10-11 it was a sign that God would provide whatever Saul lacked. God adopts us into His family and in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us salt and light.

Conclusion:

Saul didn’t choose to be king and he didn’t want to be king, but God had a purpose for Saul as the first leader of His inheritance.

When others cower, will we rise up?

When others criticize, will we enter the arena?

When others are worthless, will we demonstrate valor?

Jesus said in John 15:5

John 15:5 ESV:2016

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

But he also told Mary before conceiving the Christ child

Luke 1:37 ESV:2016

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Our response song this morning is a testimony that with Jesus our helplessness becomes hopefulness.

[i] Klippenstein, Rachel. 2016. “Urim and Thummim.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. [ii] Payne, David F. 1994. “1 and 2 Samuel.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 307. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

[iii] Baldwin, Joyce G. 1988. 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 8. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. [iv] Bergen, Robert D. 1996. 1, 2 Samuel. Vol. 7. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. Explanation (reference)