09(1Sam 08) Saul - A Lesson in Obedience
1 Samuel 10:9-10:26
Introduction
1. All of the people of Israel were gathered together. This was an important occasion. They had demanded that God set a king over them. And on this day their king would be chosen from amongst them. Whose tribe would he be from? Whose family? Some may even have wondered if they were to be the one chosen.
2. And so Samuel, the prophet and priest of God brings forth the tribes. The tribe of Benjamin is chosen. He brings forth the clans, one by one. The clan of Matri is chosen. Hhe brings forth the families within this clan and the family of Kish is chosen. And then from the family of Kish, Saul is chosen as king.
3. Samuel wants to present their first king to the people. But there is a problem. Saul is missing, he is not to be found. Where is he? Did he not show up? The Lord knows where Saul is. And He tells the people "He has hidden himself among the baggage."
4. As we will see Samuel knew that He had been chosen by God to be king, but he hid hoping that he could avoid this task that God had given him.
5. This morning I have a question that each one of you must answer, to God and to yourselves. Are you hiding among the baggage? As individuals and together as a church?
6. As we look at Saul, let us ask ourselves, "Can I can see any similarities between Saul and myself?" "Am I hiding among the baggage?
I. Saul seems to be qualified for the position.
A. We are first told about him in 1 Samuel 9:2.
§ This could mean that he had a kingly stature. He stood out above all the others.
B. God chose Saul
§ In chapter 9 when Samuel sees Saul, God tells him "this is the man" who will govern my people.
C. 1 Samuel 10,Samuel anoints Saul as the king of Israel.
§ Anointed into this position but also empowered by God to carry out his task.
D. God changed Saul.
§ He changed his heart so that Saul was receptive to God’s spirit working within him, to hearing God speak to him. And so we read that he joined a group of prophets as they were prophesying.
§ Those who knew him could see that he was different.
§ Saul had been chosen and empowered by God to lead His people.
II. But when this was to be made public he hid among the baggage.
A. We also have been chosen and empowered by God to serve Him.
§ 1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
§ Each one of us has been chosen by God to be His disciple and to make known to others what He has done. We have been given the Holy Spirit to serve Him. To proclaim His name and salvation to this community, to this city.
B. Are we doing this?
§ Do people know that you are God’s child and are you showing His word and love to others?
§ Or are you hiding among the baggage?
18. Friends, we are hiding among the baggage. We have mentioned just some of the baggage we have. The failure to trust God, the fear of man, self-negativism and religiousity. But we may also carry the baggage of unforgiveness and the failure to confess past sins. Of complacency and self-absorption. We have accumulated much baggage over the year.
III. What is the baggage you hide amongst?
20. I believe God wants to do much through us. That He wants us to worship Him more with all our heart and soul. To be released from the baggage that restrains our worship. That is why we can learn from Herb when he shouts to the Lord. I believe God wants us more active in our community. To show people we care because God cares. To do this we need to get out from the baggage. To step out in boldness. To take authority in the name and love of Christ.
21. It means I have baggage to shed. To get rid of. And so do you. I am very comfortable here, many of us are. But our comfort must be in the Lord not in traditions and not in a lack of fervour in serving God.
22. Let us get out from amongst the baggage. Let us give our baggage to the Lord. To be freed from the burden of carrying them.
23. To serve Him and to proclaim Him regardless of the cost.
1 Samuel 9:16-10:24
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
the deaths in Sanford last week, the accident on 46 in Geneva, all serve to remind us that life is fragile, time is limited, and tomorrow is not promised.
What makes the tsunami even more tragic, is that while the wave itself could not have been prevented, the death toll could have been significantly lowered if people on the shore had received even a few minutes of an early warning that might have allowed them to leave the beaches and move as far inland as possible. They were not warned.
Yesterday, I led a graveside service at Deltona Memorial Gardens. I happened to get there a little early, so I walked around the cemetery and looked at some of the headstones nearby. I was amazed at the number of young people I saw buried there. There were several teens there, and some people in there 20’s. I saw many places where children were buried. As I walked and looked I wondered, were they ever warned? Did anyone take the time to tell them to get ready?
Saul and his servant went looking for some lost donkeys one day and since they couldn’t find them, they decided to go see the prophet Samuel to see if he could tell them where the donkeys were. Before they got there, God told Samuel that Saul was coming and told him what to do. That’s where we take up this account.
- Read 1 Samuel 10:1-10, 17-24
There are several items about this encounter I would like you to notice, several similarities in this passage I see between Saul and us.
1. Chosen by God – First notice that Saul was chosen by God.
- Read 1 Samuel 9:16-17
It was not by chance that Saul happened to go to town that day. It was not an accident that caused him to arrive when Samuel was in town. God arranged it because Saul was chosen by God.
My friend, I want you to know that it was not by accident that you had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. It was not an accident nor luck of the draw that caused a person to first share the good news with you. God arranged it.
- Read Ephesians 1:3-6
Let me tell you my friend, God chose to allow you the opportunity to be saved. You were chosen by God.
Notice if you will, the 2nd similarity we share with Saul.
2. Anointed by God –
- 1 Samuel 10:1 Samuel poured oil over Saul’s head. He anointed him king. My friend, if you have invited the Lord Jesus into your heart, I want you to know that you have been anointed, you have been set apart as well.
> Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
My friend, Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him. The moment you invite Jesus to come into your heart, the minute you ask Him to be your Lord, He, through the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in you. You are anointed.
3. Changed by God - 1 Samuel 10:9
On that day, Saul’s heart was changed. He was a new man. My friend, the Bible says the same thing happens to you and I.
> 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
My friend, when Jesus comes to dwell in your heart, you become a new person. Your heart is changed. In the eyes of God you are new because you are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ which takes away the sin of the world.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh my friend, if you are truly a believer, then you have been changed by God. My friend, you, like Saul were chosen by God, you were anointed by God, and you were changed by God. There is another similarity you have with Saul as well. Look there again please at chapter 10 and verse 24.
4. Commissioned by God – 1 Samuel 10:1
God gave Saul a mission, a responsibility. He was to rule God’s people. He was supposed to be king.
My friend, you and I have been commissioned by God as well. Jesus commands us, Go into all the world and make disciples. You and I are to be disciple makers. Can you imagine what it will be like when you get to heaven and someone walks up and says, “Thank you. I’m here today because of what you did. I’m here today because of what you taught. I’m here today because you told me about Jesus. I’m here today because of you.”
Oh my friend, you and I am have been commissioned.
Sadly, many of us are like Saul in another way as well.
6. Useless to God - 1 Samuel 10:21-22
God had prepared Saul to be king, but where was Saul? He was hiding among the supplies. Sadly, even after God has equipped us, many of us are hiding out, ignoring one of the primary missions God has given us. To lead other people into a saving knowledge of Him.
Some of us are hiding in busyness. Some don’t speak up because of fear. Some are blind, not realizing the importance. of our mission. We look at the recent tsunami and we recoil at the immense loss of life. Sadly, this year alone, many times that many people will die right here in the United States, the majority of them leaving for a Christless eternity, and many believers and many Christians sit unmoved and unmoving. The cry of the psalmist is still appropriate for many today.
Psalms 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. (KJV)
Every 24 hours, about 146,000 people die, and most of them without Christ. Every 24 hours, about 345,000 babies are born. Will we win these? Our denomination wins about 400,000 people to Christ a year, which is less than the number of people born January 1 & 2 each year. My friend, you and I have work to do, work far more important than much of what we spend our time doing.
Oh my friends, what if those who recently perished in that giant wave knew that those in church often spend more time praying for each other’s sicknesses than they do for lost people’s salvation?
Years ago, a farmer in Asia stood outside his hut and down the hill toward the sea. There in the distance he saw a wave that seemed to be larger than usual, headed his way. As he watched, the wave grew and grew in height. Looking around, he saw his neighbors and the rest of the villagers farming in the fields below, unable to see the wave headed their way. In just a few minutes, the wave would overtake them and they would all be lost. Thinking quickly, he grabbed a torch and set his hut on fire, with all of the rice he had already gathered for the coming winter. After lighting the fire, he began to ring the village bell and his neighbors, looking up and seeing the fire, immediately left their fields and ran up the hill to help. Only after reaching the top, did they turn and see the wave begin to crash on the fields they had just left. Their neighbor had sacrificed all he had to save their lives. My friends, God has called you and me to have new priorities in our lives as well.
Who are you taking to heaven with you? …