Saul Anointed King 1 Samuel 9:26-10:16

Introduction

The journey of Saul’s life, as recorded in 1 Samuel 9 and 10, reveals a man who was called to greatness, yet struggled with obedience and reliance on God. In these pivotal moments, God revealed His plan for Saul, and Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel. But before Saul could walk in this new calling, Samuel took him aside to give him one essential piece of advice—“stand still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.”

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to overlook the importance of stillness. We often find ourselves rushing from one task to the next, trying to solve problems, fulfill responsibilities, and manage our lives. But in the midst of all this busyness, we may miss the voice of God speaking to us. Just as Samuel told Saul to stop and listen, God is calling us to do the same.

Before Saul could step into his calling as king, he needed to be still long enough to hear God’s word. He needed to be assured of God’s provision, to know that God could solve his problems, and to trust in His power to lead. Today, we’re reminded that, just like Saul, we must take time to be still and listen for God’s voice. If we are to live in the fullness of God’s calling, we must first allow the Spirit of God to work in us and through us.

As we look at Saul’s anointing and the signs that God gave him, we’ll discover how God is still at work today, solving our problems, meeting our needs, and empowering us through His Spirit. But we must be still enough to hear Him.

Samuel speaks with Saul vs. 26-27

After coming down from the high place where Samuel had sacrificed and given Saul his portion of the sacrifice, they wake up early the next morning and Samuel tells Saul that it is time for him to depart

The Spring of the day here refers to the time when the sun was just beginning to rise.

As they got to the outskirts of the city, Samuel asked Saul to send his servant away, but asked Saul to stay a while

Notice the wording in the last part of verse 27

“stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

Don’t get so busy that you don’t have time for the word of God

In the busyness of the world we live in its easy to miss spending time with God, which may lead to us missing what God has for us.

Psalm 46:10 “10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Saul was about to enter the busiest season of his life and Samuel here was telling him to stand still so he could give him a word from the Lord

Samuel Anoints Saul vs. 1-8

Once Saul’s servant is out of view Samuel anoints Saul with oil

Saul had just been anointed as the first king of Israel and from that moment on Saul was leaders over God’s people which is the inheritance spoken of in verse 1. Only Samuel and Saul knew this

Samuel then tells Saul three things that would happen to prove he was the next king

The Donkeys were found in verse 2

HE would find 2 men that knew he was looking for the lost donkeys and told him the donkeys had been found, but his father was looking for him.

This proved that God could solve his problems

Remember the whole reason he was were he was because his dads donkeys were missing so his dad sent him and a servant to go find them

God is still solving our problems today, in fact there is not a problem we face in our life that God doesn’t know about and doesn’t already have the solution too.

Remember 1 Peter 5:7 “7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Nahum 1:7 “7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; And he knoweth them that trust in him.”

The main thing we must remember though is we must let go of our problems in order for God to take care of them

Wiersbe said this about the kingship of Saul “One of Saul’s greatest failures as a leader was his inability to take his hands off of situations and let God work. In modern language, Saul was a “control freak.” Yet while Saul and his servant were dining with Samuel, God was at work saving the lost animals.”

Bread would be provided vs. 3-4

As he continued home he would encounter 3 men who were going up to God to Bethel

Even though there was an epidemic of unbelief in Israel there was still a remnant of those who honored the Lord and sought His face

One of the men would have 3 goats, one of the men would have three loaves of bread, one of the men would be carrying a bottle of wine.

Those men would salute Saul

This gives the thought that they were checking on his well being

Then they would give him 2 loaves of bread

This proved that God could and would supply all of his need

Philippians 4:19 “19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:31–33 “31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

God is still supplying all of our needs today, we can trust him with our needs. David said this in Psalm 37:25 “25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.”

He would meet a band of prophets vs. 5-6

These prophets would be coming down from the hill of God still worshiping

they would still be playing their instruments and the would prophesy

While there the spirit of the Lord would come upon him and he would prophesy with them and Samuel uses an interesting phrase to end verse 6

“and shalt be turned into another man”

When you are filled with the spirit, you truly are another person, you are empty of pride, selfishness and focused on the saviour.

This would show Saul that the Spirit of God was the power source he needed in order to fulfil the service God had called him too

In Paul asks the question that is in the heart of every person called to Gods service 2 Corinthians 2:16 “16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

And we find the answer in 2 Corinthians 3:5 “5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

Later in Saul’s time as king he became self sufficient and rebellious and the Lord would take his spirit from him

1 Samuel 16:14 “14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.”

Samuel sends Saul on his way vs. 7-8

Samuel tells Saul that all of these things were going to happen to show that God was with him

God is with us today, and we can trust that everything that he has put in our life is there to prove his goodness towards us and our need of him.

Saul heads home vs. 9-16

As Saul heads home the bible says that Saul was given another heart

This is speaking of a change of attitude and outlook, He would now think like a leader and king of the nation of Israel whose main responsibility was to listen to God and obey His will.

The Spirit of God would allow Saul to better do this, but when Saul became proud and rebellious the Lord would take his spirit from him

Notice that all of these events took place.

One commentary wrote it this way “All these signs came about as Samuel had predicted (v. 9b). It is precisely because they are so uncanny that they are so significant. They are not bland generalizations like the little quips from a fortune cookie. They are detailed: two men meet you at a precise location (near Rachel’s grave) with a very particular message (donkeys found, etc.); or three men come upon you at the oak of Tabor, one having three young goats, one with three loaves of bread, one with a skin of wine, and the bread man gives you two of his loaves! Samuel may have been a sharp prophet but such signs are beyond mere human foresight. Such minutiae can come only from the Lord. Therefore these signs should signify to Saul that he does have the Lord’s authorization for kingship (v. 1) and the Lord’s presence (v. 7) to carry out the demands of kingship. The signs are meant to assure.”

The only one of the events recorded though is the meeting of the company of prophets

When he met them the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied with them

In the Old testament God gave his spirit to certain people to enable them to do special tasks, but the could lose the Spirit, but not their salvation

The Lord withdrew the Spirit from Saul for rebellion

Samson didn’t even know the Lord departed from him

David prayed in Ps 51:11 for the Lord to not take the holy spirit from him

Believers today have the Holy spirit abiding within forever

John 14:16–17 “16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

The Holy Spirit seals us

Ephesians 1:13–14 “13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Saul had a personal experience with the Spirit of God and expressed it in praise and worship, as we all should

If He would’ve continued to nurture his walk with the Lord his life would have turned out much different.

Look at Saul’s testimony

Last week we saw that he was goodly, but not godly and we see that in what the people around him said when they heard he had prophesied

vs. 11-13

Saul returns home and says nothing about being anointed king vs. 14-15

Conclusion

Are you still enough to hear from God?

Are you yielded to the Holy Spirit so when God calls you answer?

Are you saved this morning? You can never be yielded to the spirit you don’t possess and you can’t possess the spirit with out salvation. Salvation comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ, believing on Him and calling on His name. If you aren’t saved this morning, come, and we can show you how you can be saved