1 Samuel 9:1-10:17

Background for entire book. This how does your passage fit?

1 and 2 Samuel should be considered one book. The division only come because of scroll length.

Before Samuel the book of Judges rehearse how Israel failed to remain faithful to YHWH and love according to the constitution [10 Commandments/Law] YHWH established with the after delivering them from slavery in Egypt.

It was a period of moral chaos and revealed that Israel needed wise and faithful leadership. Samuel is the answer to how God provides that leadership they need.

“everyone did what was right in their own eye” [find all the places this is used in Judges.]

200 years of extraordinary social upheaval in Israel. [The middle of the 11 century BC.]

These were the 200 years after the Israelites had come into the land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. The era is often referred to as the period of the judges.

Much of it is recounted in the book of Judges, which concludes with this summary: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).2 In other words, there was no established and permanent political authority in the land. Anarchy reigned. There was a crisis of leadership in Israel. Or so it seemed.

The three main figures of the book is Samuel, Saul and David. [Serves as a helpful breakdown for the book as well. [ [1-7] [8-14] [15-31] ]

They three transition Israel from a groups of tribes to a unified kingdom ruled [by the books closures by king David] in Jerusalem.

Samuel is the prophet in the first part of the book and the transition from Judge in Israel to king.

Saul rise and fall then David rise and then falls as well.

Samuel links Israel’s era of uncertainty under the judges’s leadership, the rise of the monarchy under Saul and the flourishing reign under David. Samuel also rehearses Israel’s struggle to conquer and subdue her enemies that were left unconquered during the conquest.

Some of the things we see in the narrative of Samuel is

YHWH’s uniqueness as Israel’s God.

Israel’s status as God’s chosen people.

Humanity Failure and God’s faithfulness to himself through it.

God’s Divine sovereignty

God’s Divine Blessing

Samuel answers the question how would God cause His people to survive considering the two centuries of corruption, instability and even corruption in the nation’s leadership and people recorded in the book of judges. What is the solution for the special people that God made His own?

A secondary questions would be what can we learn about God and ourselves from His dealing with His people during this curial time in their history.

1 Corinthians 10:11 “11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.”

Romans 15:4 “4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Observations and Questions

The Over All Text

Paste Text here and break it down

1 Samuel 9:1–10:16 —1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. 5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.”

6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.”

“Price over my people” - translates a Hebrew word (which occurs here for the first time in the Old Testament) that has no necessary royal connotations. The term has received a great deal of scholarly attention, and there is a variety of views. “It is a term that suggests the exercise of political power in a designated role of leadership rather than in the manner of the ad hoc charismatic leadership of the shofet, or judge.” [Woodhouse p162 - footnote 26]

“because their cry has come to me” - The Lord was not sending Saul because the people requested a king. He sent him because they had a need to be delivered from their enemy.

Exodus 2:23; 3:7;9; Judges 3:9;15;4:3

“restrain my people” - [hold back] [reigning in] [governing] - Some commentator think it means hold Israel back from becoming like the other nations.

18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’ ” 24 So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26 Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.

[heritage] - is an indisputable possession that cannot be transferred to another.

1 Kings 8:53; Psalm 33:12; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 9:26; 29; 14:12; 32:8, 9]

Samuel emphasized as strongly as he can that the Lord was not surrendering His claim on His people. [no matter the leadership they were requesting, the Lord would not allow them to become like the other nations.]

2 When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’

all three signs have some reflection on what happen earlier in Saul’s journey.

“Rachel’s tomb” - Rachel was Jacob’s second wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She had died giving birth to Benjamin (Genesis 35:16–20). She was therefore not only Israel’s matriarch, but her tomb was a particular reminder of the origins of Saul’s own tribe, Benjamin. By reminding us of the beginnings of Israel, and in particular of Benjamin, Rachel’s tomb points us back to the book of Genesis where the promises of God that defined Israel’s p 171 existence were repeatedly heard (see, for example, just before the birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel, Genesis 35:9–12). [John Woodhouse, 1 Samuel: Looking for a Leader (Preaching the Word; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), 170–171.]

3 Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand.

“Bethel” - Once again the significance of the place lies in its associations in the book of Genesis. Bethel (“house of God”) received its name from Jacob’s extraordinary encounter with God there (see Genesis 28:10–22 and 35:1–15; cf. 12:8; 13:3, 4). Bethel was the place where God repeated his astonishing promise to Jacob, the promise that defined Israel (Genesis 28:13–15; 35:9–12). [John Woodhouse, 1 Samuel: Looking for a Leader (Preaching the Word; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), 171.

5 After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

From Rachel’s tomb, via the oak on the way to Bethel, Saul would come to Gibeath-elohim, or “the hill of God.” This is a reference to Gibeah (“the hill”), the home of Saul (see vv. 10, 26)14 and therefore the end of his return journey. The first surprise (at least for us readers) is that there was “a garrison [or governor15] of the Philistines” there. That there was a garrison (or garrisons16) of Philistines so far into Israelite territory is alarming and suggests that the Philistines had become a serious threat again.17 That the Philistine presence was located at a place known as “the hill of God” added insult to injury. [John Woodhouse, 1 Samuel: Looking for a Leader (Preaching the Word; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), 172.]

“The Spirit of the Lord and be turned into another man” - Judges 14:6;19; 15:14

7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” 9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.

“Do what your hands find to do” - Empowered by the Spirit of God, Saul was to act, assured of God’s presence with him. But what was he to do? “Do what your hand finds to do” does not mean that Saul would be free to do whatever he liked.22 Rather, the words indicate that there would be a task for Saul to do.23 What was the task? The idiom, “Do what your hand finds to do” is also found in Judges 9:33, where the context makes clear that it refers to military action against an enemy.24 [John Woodhouse, 1 Samuel: Looking for a Leader (Preaching the Word; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), 173.]

10 When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” 15 And Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.

Word & Phrase Study

Paste Text Underline key words to study

Goal/Purpose

What are you trying to accomplish with this sermon. Should be linked to the inspired meaning of the text.

People to pray

Who are some people this sermon will benefit?

Who are some people that represent groups of people to keep in mind when thinking through Application.

Prayer

What should you be asking God for yourself and your people.

What are some hurdles or hindrances to understanding this text.

Opening Statement [HOOK]

Is there something that relates well to this topic that will draw your people into understanding why they need to open their bibles to this passages.

The alarm clock goes off at 5AM.

You jump out of bed immediately.

Not because you are excited to start the day but you know your wife will kill you if you wake up that toddler.

Brush your teeth and wash your face just in enough time to hear the soul satisfying sound of the coffee pot beeping.

Hot cup of coffee in hand, you sit down and crack open your Bible.

Around 6:15 the sun starts to climb over the horizon, so you grab some warm clothes and check the weather.

It’s Kansas so you can guess (Windy Again…surprise and chance of thunderstorm later)

Sometime later you arrive back home and everyone is starting to wake up.

Get the kids dressed

Head off to work and school.

You double back to the school because someone left the lunch in the car of course.

Now your five minutes behind schedule.

The light on 11th starts turns yellow as you approach so you give it a little gas to assure the 5 mins don’t turn into 25 mins behind.

Voice on the radio is talking about something, but you not really listening.

He’s just rehearsing the results of the Chiefs game, and you are already upset at the overtime lost to the Bills.

You arrive at work.

insurance office, Construcvtion site, Hospital, Class room, Grain elevator

Conversation throughout the morning is about the same as last weeks. [kid’s sports, harvest seasons approaching, Aunt Liz making Bierocks for the church fundfaiser, disrespectful Kansas wind]

Lunch roles around

left over sloppy Joe’s [Yum Yum]

Around 2

You get those reminder you set a few days back.

Kids have basketball tonight - don’t be late [P.S. Set another reminder after you read this so you really don’t forget]

Pick up dinner rolls from Dillions on your way home.

Pulling up to the house by 5:15pm

Give the awkward but polite wave to your neighbor who seems obsessed with his Lawn.

Dinner smells like crockpot blessings. [Roast, potatoes, carrots, green beans]

Kids rush the door, excited to see you

Ya’ll sit down to enjoy dinner and family worship together,

The other events of the evening feels like a blur because its bed time already.

Kids are tucked, prayers are lifted lights are out and an hour later you and your wife finally lay down its 10:30 and the thunderstorms come cubmbling in like a feight train.

AWWWWHHHH the good life.

Not glamorus, NOT boring, just solid day of Hutchinson living.

a day stiched together with coffee, community, wind, kids, work, and quiest living and you see it all as a blessing from the God you granted you external life.

But what you like don’t see is how each of the

Background to Understand

Who ?

What?

Where?

Why?

How?

So what?

Near Context to Understand

However as we hear the account we are aware (as Saul was apparently unaware) of the great crisis in Israel that was narrated in chapter 8. Israel’s leader Samuel was old, his sons were a nightmare, and the people of Israel were asking for the greatest change in the nation’s constitution since the days of Moses—a king so they could be “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:1–5). We know that both Samuel and the Lord disapproved of the proposal (1 Samuel 8:6–9). However, the Lord told Samuel to make them a king (1 Samuel 8:22). Samuel did not do that, at least not immediately. Instead he sent everyone home (1 Samuel 8:22). When we are then introduced to an impressive young man named “Asked For” (1 Samuel 9:2), we suspect there was more going on than lost donkeys. [John Woodhouse, 1 Samuel: Looking for a Leader (Preaching the Word; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008), 167.]

Proposition Statement

Exegetical Outline

God Fulfilling His plan in the Ordinary Circumstances of Life [vv 9:1- 14 & 18-27 & 10:14-16]

Present- What does the text say?

1 Samuel 9:1–14 “1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. 5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was. 11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.”

1 Samuel 9:18–27 “18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” 22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’ ” 24 So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26 Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.””

1 Samuel 10:14–16 “14 Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” 15 And Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.”

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Romans 8:28-30

Summarize and Transition

God’s Preoccupation with His people [vv 9:15 - 17]

Present- What does the text say?

1 Samuel 9:15–17 “15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.””

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Summarize and Transition

God Enables What He Calls His Servant to [vv 10:1-13]

Present- What does the text say?

1 Samuel 10:1–13 “1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. 2 When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’ 3 Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. 5 After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” 9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.”

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Summarize and Transition

Point 4 [vv1-7]

Present- What does the text say?

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Summarize and Transition

Conclusions

Discussion Questions and Hand out Material