The King is Chosen
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Chosen,
Have you ever been chosen for something?
There are various scenarios where chosen plays out.
Think back to the school days and gym class. For me those were terrifying times. You see, since I was the fine age of five, I wore glasses. I was small even for my age, and my athletic abilities was nothing to be written on the report cards.
Gym class was my first lesson on being chosen.
Popularity counts in this type of choosing
Teams:
You remember the drill. Captains would be chosen and then one by one, they would pick their favourite, most gifted, most talented players for their team. Let’s just say, I was never first.
Chosen,
Then there is the draws. You know the ones I mean. The draws where your name is placed in a bucket and someone thrust’s their hand into and grabs the piece of paper to be the chosen lucky winner for the draw. You sit anxiously by waiting to hear your name read out on the piece of paper.
Randomly or by chance works in this type of choosing.
Chosen
Tryouts. Whether it is a part in a play, a band, a sports team. We have all at one time mustered up the courage and thrust our abilities to the public and tested to see if they were of any worth. We put ourselves out there hoping to be recognized for the potential value we could bring to the play, band or team.
Skill or ability works in this type of choosing
Chosen by God
I wonder how many of us use the three above criteria in our expectations of God’s choosing. Popularity, by chance, or by our own skill or ability we bring to the table.
This morning we are going to look at the process by which God choose Israel's first King. For those of you who may not have heard this story, or you have forgotten the plot it may surprise you.
As we work our way through the text this morning, I want to plant a question in your mind. Let it linger in there, roll around in there and let it get some traction in your thought patterns.
How has God Chosen me.
I want that thought to be in your head as you examine this text.
How has God Chosen me.
Let’s Pray
Saul’s Family
Saul’s Family
If you recall last week we ended the chapter 8 with Samuel telling all the people to go back to their own towns.
The rally is over. I guess you could even say it was a protest, a gathering of all the elders and leaders throught the land have come together to protest the way in which Samuel was leading. The protest is over and Samuel tells them to go home.
Time has moved on,
Let’s read the text
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.
His Father’s Description
His Father’s Description
I am glad today for two things. One, we go by last names to distinguish ourselves from other families, and secondly we do not have to prove our worth or show our lineage when being introduced.
Kish. enters the scene or at least the narrative. In most narratives when you have to show importance they list the family line. I did a bit of research on this man and found out some interesting things.
They only list up to his Great Grandfather line. A consistent pattern followed.
Kish had other sons, not listed in this passage
Kish was a grandfather to Mordecai , the one found in the book of Esther
There is also two word descriptions that mean much for a jewish person reading this text.
He was from the tribe of Benjamin. The youngest son of Jacob. Up until this point, nothing spectacular happened to this tribe. Being the youngest they were down on the list of importance for anything in the jewish culture.
he came from a family of privilege/wealth. IT was clear in those days ones with wealth were able to do so much more than those without.
Saul’s Description
Saul’s Description
The text then moves onto a description of Saul.
a handsome young man. The first description of the soon to be king is his outward appearance. And the text is to clarify how handsome he really was. He wasn’t just one of the many handsome guys in the local youth group, he was the poster boy for the Jewish Times.
If there were contest for appearances, Saul would win the contest hands down. All he would have to do is entry and the contest is over. The writer of this text clarifies that there was no one found more handsome in all the land.
I wonder if the writer added this comment to show to us how choices are made?
Not only was Saul handsome, but he was the start basketball player as well. head and shoulders above the rest.
Good if you need someone to see their way through the crowd, not good if a battle because they become an easy target.
If you were to stop there in this description. Saul had it all
He had access to wealth, beauty and ability. Anyone who wanted to choose a leaders, this is the obvious choice.
One thing is for certain. Wealth, beauty and ability doesn’t always give confidence as we are about to hear as we work our way through this text.
How has God Chosen me? Is it still circulating in your thoughts?
When we have been called by God, do we put our expectations on these traits as well. Do we rely on the things that others see in us or the things that God sees? When we look to see God’s calling on our lives, are we listening to God or those around us and their expectations of what you should be.
Saul’s Responsibilities
Saul’s Responsibilities
The text moves on to show that Saul was not a son that was sitting around the house waiting for his inheritance, he was given tasks from his father.
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.”
The Task
The Task
Lost donkeys. As a man of great wealth I sure there was a large herd of donkeys. It most likely wasn’t a few stranglers that wondered off or there wouldn’t have a need for the search party of two.
Isn’t it interesting how God used the event of something that is lost to find its new leader. A task that is generally assigned to a servant is given to a son who will become the first King of the People.
When you think of being chosen and God orchestrating the events for His choosing, it is a wonder why we even attempt to manage our lives without first coming to the Father for guidance.
The Journey
The Journey
Again this was no small adventure for Saul and his companion. They were not just looking around the neighbour hood they went much father.
Let’s look at the text
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.”
The Concern
The Concern
The concern transferred from the herd to the hunters.
Simply put, Saul was tired of the lost donkeys and was secretly hoping his dad would be more concerned about his own flesh and blood then a herd of donkeys.
With all the traveling about, they ended up in a town where no other than the prophet, judge of the people was currently residing. Samuel.
Let’s look at the text
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.”
The Man of God
The Man of God
Did you notice who knew about Samuel. He is described as a Man of God. He is still held in honor for the things that he can do and that God speaks to him.
Samuel wanted to return to home empty handed to his Father. He most likely was secure in the fact that blood lines would speak louder than missing animals.
The servant, I can image wasn’t in the same situation. He was given a task to bring home animals and he was willing to try anything to succeed in this mission.
Again we see Saul not interested in seeking out a man of God, willing to just turn around and head home that he begins to give out reasons why they can’t seek out God.
We have nothing to give.
Notice the contrast between the soon to be king and that of a servant.
The one realizes he has nothing while the other is willing to give up what he treasured, silver in order to seek out Samuel.
Well said, is Samuel’s response to his servant and the silver. Well said, let’s go and talk with this man.
Before we head off to our breakout rooms, I am going to leave you with a couple of thoughts or questions.
Q: What do you thing Saul was expecting from talking with Samuel
Q: What do you think Saul felt when he was told by Samuel that he would be the King?
Part Two
Part Two
Let’s begin the second part by jumping right into scripture.
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.
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.
The Plan to meet Samuel
The Plan to meet Samuel
Choices.
Once again we see the choices that the two searchers have made. They have for the moment given up their task of searching for the animals and now are in search of the man of God.
At this point, they have no idea what he looks like. I found that very interesting for Samuel has been the judge and spokesperson for God for many years now and yet, Saul being an Israelite could not recognize him. They are about to ask Samuel if they know where is the Man of God.
Yet God had orchestrated His choice for the people.
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.”
God’s Preparation for the meeting
God’s Preparation for the meeting
A couple things from these verses.
When I read this verse, it often reminds me of God’s Timing. In this verse, Samuel was told of the timing of God. The plan is laid out for him, yet from Saul’s perspective, life is rolling along.
We serve a God who is all knowing, He has made a choice to give us what we need when we need it.
It is only when we have a chance to look back over the circumstances of our lives that we see God weaving his tapestry in our lives. Preparing us and others to bring Glory to God through choices and circumstances.
Samuel had his marching orders.
Anoint him to be prince.
The Hebrew word used is Na-Gid
it means a leader, not a king rather to be put in a position of power
God still wanted the title of King for his people
One commentator writes
Any king of Israel would have to appreciate from the outset that he was to rule over Israel under God. Only on the basis of this fundamental theological premise can the narratives of the advent of monarchy in Israel be properly understood
Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 610). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
God had heard the people’s cry and was giving them a leader to rule over them. Saul on the onset was a man from the outward appearance the one to be chosen.
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.”
God’s Choice is made clear
God’s Choice is made clear
God spoke directly and made his choice clear.
He shall restrain.
It is that of a leader to enslave the people or like a animal owner who is control over the animal.
God is also giving a hint to Samuel of what is about to come with the inauguration of the Kingdom.
The rest of the chapter, I am going o challenge you to read for yourself. It is a dialogue between Samuel and Saul. One of many dialogues between the two.
It gives a picture of who Saul first believed he was in sight of God. But I would like to jump a few verses.
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 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.
God’s Choice was Clear
God’s Choice was Clear
God’s calling on the life of Saul changed that very moment. Imagine the scene. In the quietness of the moment, Samuel shared with Saul the desires of the King of King.
There wasn’t a fanfare of trumpets. The massive crowd wasn’t following Samuel to see who will be picked to be crowned.
God’s calling was a private anointing of his Chosen one.
Choices.
What is our response to God’s Calling on our lives?
Where has God placed you to serve him.
9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.
Saul’s heart needed to be changed. Transformed.
as disciples of Christ, we too need to go through a change.
Remember a disciple is one
who is seeking to know God while being transformed into the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit in the context of community.
God gave Saul a new heart a heart to serve God. We too are given something.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
The moment we have accepted Christ as our saviour, we are transformed. The Spirit enters our life and we are transformed.
God’s calling on our lives is to bring Glory and honor to him in all that we do.
Whether we are serving coffee at a local coffee shop, working in a factory, teaching, running a business, all these things are the calling on our lives. To be living a daily transformational life so that others may see God.
If you are doubting today your calling, let me read this verse
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
God knew the timing of Saul’s kingship.
He also knows the timing of our calling.
You are chosen by God.
God almighty knew you even before the creation and the foundation of this earth.
He chose you to be called His Child.
This morning if you feel lost, maybe you feel like you are wondering around looking for Donkeys, this is a reminder that when you give you life to Christ.
When you accept the grace and forgiveness of Christ work on the cross and his Resurrection, you too will be saved.
You too will be called by God to be his child.
If you have not made the choice to follow Christ, may I ask what is stopping you.
Take the time today to accept Christ’s forgiveness, Believe on His word, and confess with your mouth that he is your saviour and you will be saved.
Choices
Choices
The choice is yours today. May I encourage you to make that choice to follow God.
Saul woke up that morning realizing that he was still on the journey to find the donkeys, little did he know that he would encounter God. He was chosen by God to serve as their king.
Today, you have been chosen to serve God.
When you reflect on the calling of Saul to be king and you feel you can’t relate. God hasn’t called you to something big.
Chasing Donkeys
Maybe you feel all your life you have been out chasing donkeys as well. You wonder why and are waiting for things to turn around.
if you have accepted Christ as your saviour, God has promised that His Spirit dwells within us.
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
We are children of the God most High. and we too are princes and princesses as His children.
Today, you have a choice to make. To serve God with all your heart.
Saul was chosen by God. you likewise have been chosen by God. Serve him with all your heart.