Introducing the People's King
Notes
Transcript
I. Why did God choose Saul?
I. Why did God choose Saul?
God choose Saul as precisely the sort of person the people really wanted. The people wanted (1) a man who could raise a nationwide army powerful enough to protect them from the foreign invaders - the Philistines and the Ammonites. (2) a man who could serve as the highest court in the land, and impose law and order on the chaotic tribes. (3) to raise national prestige by creating a bureaucracy that was similar to the surrounding nations.
That translates into a man who is
From a family with some status. Kish was a “man of wealth/power” the Hebrew Word חַיִל can mean either. Though since we’re talking about a household, he necessarily must be wealthy, and may also be able to field a small army. Theoretically a wealthy man might not be into military actions, but any man who can field a small army must be wealthy to have the number of servants and income necessary to afford it. Furthermore, the servant who went with Saul was likely not a young man. The Hebrew word translated “young man” can also just mean a servant. Ziba (2 Samuel 9:10 ) was the chief servant in later decades, and had 15 sons and 20 servants of his own. Lit. One of the servants, or “the one” of the servants, i.e. the head servant. Kish had a lot of servants, and sent one of his most trusted with his son.
So why would the people care about a family with status? Because the reason they want to be like the nations was about national prestige. A prestigious family will mean a more prestigious leader and raise national pride.
carries himself in a manner that suggests someone who can get things done, who can protect you from all the scary threats out there. The phrase “choice and handsome man” is lit. “young and good” It is clear that Saul did have an impressive appearance, as he stood a head taller than the average person. It is also clear from what happened later that he wasn’t necessarily a particularly righteous man. The NIV translates it as “an impressive young man.” in other words it wasn’t just that he was the clone of an a-list actor; he impressed you as someone who could do what the people wanted. He could take action; he could protect you.
It didn’t hurt that he was tall. The people were scared and wanted to feel safe, and his height increased how impressive he seemed to be. Now the average Israelite man was short - somewhere around 5ft and a bit. So a man who is a head taller than the average man is somewhere around 6-6ft 6in. A tall man, but not a freak. Is this shallow? yeah. But it would have won votes, if there had been a vote.
It was also helpful that Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. God does often call the unexpected, the small. But being from a small tribe it would not threaten either Judea in the south or Israel in the North.
What is significant about this is not what is present, but what is missing. The people didn’t want horrible things. They wanted good things, but they didn’t care about what really made a good leader. Government should protect its citizens from invaders and from bad actors within - its actually the sole job of a government. And the loose system of judges wasn’t doing that. But the only real solution was to have a man who was a man after God’s own heart. One who would serve God faithfully and completely. They needed a wise man, not just an impressive man of action.
II. Who Cares that Saul couldn’t find his father’s Donkeys?
II. Who Cares that Saul couldn’t find his father’s Donkeys?
The very first thing we find Saul doing is unsuccessfully searching for his father’s lost donkeys. [See map] He wanders around in a big circle - it’s not clear where some of these places are, but what is clear is that he leaves Benjamin and enters Ephraim, and wanders around in a circle. What is also clear is that the donkeys end up finding their way home without him (v.20). So Saul was very busy, he took dramatic action, but it would have been wiser to stay home, since he clearly didn’t have the ability to track the donkeys. Without the necessary skills to follow the donkeys, he was just aimlessly wandering, hoping to run into them.
The Old Testament is full of references to leaders as shepherds (2 Sam 7:7; Jer 3:15; 23:4; Ezek 34:23). The metaphor indicates one who directs others and protects and provides for their needs. It is also one of three terms primary terms in the New Testament for the leader of a church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Pet 5:2-4 ).
Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord.
I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Thus the job of protecting sheep is similar to the job of protecting people. Both require service; both require wise judgment in high pressure circumstances. Luke 16:10 is relevant here.
Saul’s spiritual ignorance is also on display here.
He lived less than five miles from the most famous prophet in centuries, yet had never heard of him. Even though his servant did know. [see map]
He assumes prophets had to be paid to prophesy (Mic 3:11 ). Certainly it was customary to give to prophets, and this practice was subject to abuse. But they don’t have any money. that’s fine, Samuel would help them anyway. The amount the servant has is the ancient equivalent of loose change. A quarter of a shekel of silver is about three grams - about $2.50 in today’s money.
Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.”
The little note - the “seer” means in Hebrew about what you’d think from the translation. It is related to a word for sight, and implies that the prophet can “see” things ordinary people can’t. It’s not a very common word, which is why the author explains it. But it highlights one of the functions of a prophet. He has access to supernatural information, and God apparently was letting Samuel use it for things like this. It was small things like telling people where their lost donkeys were that elevated Samuel to national recognition.
Now later on high places became a source of idolatry. However, it seems here that this particular high place wasn’t that. In the absence of a proper tabernacle, the people necessarily defaulted to local altars. The Law did have a provision for making altars, and since there wasn’t anywhere else to worship, there doesn’t seem to be a problem with that. Samuel had set up an altar to God in his home town (1 Samuel 7:17), so this seem to be fine.
III. Why was Saul really there?
III. Why was Saul really there?
We now get the curtain pulled back on God’s providence. God directed Saul by a confluence of unlikely events. (1) donkeys wander off. not unusual by itself. (2) Kish decides to send Saul to find them; has a servant come along who knows about Samuel. (3) they can’t find the donkeys. (4) the servant happens to remember about Samuel, and happens to be able to convince Saul to go see him. (5) as part of that, the servant happens to bring along some loose change, so they can give something to pay the prophet.
That’s how God directs normally.
The word God uses to describe what Saul does is interesting. It here refers to Saul ruling over the people, but it normally means to “hold back, restrain.” The man God is bringing them will not actually benefit them.
IV. Why didn’t Saul want to be King?
IV. Why didn’t Saul want to be King?
Saul clearly didn’t want the job. He is baffled by Samuel’s praise, and do you blame him? Benjamin is small because of the war that they fought with the entire nation in the last couple of chapters of Judges. But Gideon had the same objection, and actually God loves to do that, to use the weak to defeat the strong. He thinks that though his family is wealthy and powerful, he doesn’t have the status necessary to do what the people want. Prestige is a huge part of what they want in a king. He in fact does have that, but he doesn’t think so.
When he gets back home, after God made it so clear that’s what he wants him to do, he avoids saying anything about it. Later, when all Israel is called to publicly anoint him King, he hides and God has to point him out. He really didn’t want the job.
God persuades him first by telling Samuel in advance so Samuel can prepare special treatment. Second, by telling Saul about his donkeys without asking Samuel proves himself to be a true prophet. Third, Samuel privately anoints Saul. Fourth, Samuel proclaims the Word of the Lord, and promises Saul that he will begin to deliver Israel from the surrounding enemies. While Saul ended up a disappointment, he was actually a quite competent general and found quite a few successful battles (1 Samuel 14:47 ). He only failed when he couldn’t rely on human strength, and had to rely on God.
God gives him a special ability. We find God doing this for various judges, for Saul, and for David. The other heart is God overtaking him and speaking through him. But this is really uncharacteristic of Saul, because Saul is not a particularly religious person. That’s why the saying, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a proverb for someone doing something really out of character. Saul did consult prophets, so it’s not like he didn’t believe in prophecy. It’s just not like him to display such strong religious feelings. God gave Saul every possible chance to be the godly King he needed to be. But Saul still needed to choose, and this special experience was not enough.
It wasn’t about ability, it was about status. Saul didn’t think he was important enough. When he finally did accept the position, he spent much of his energy doing what the people wanted, because he was insecure and wanted to be liked. At first, he seemed humble. But it seems it was more lack of self esteem rather than true humility.
Conclusion
What Saul was missing was the most important things. He was not a spiritually minded man. He did not overtly worship idols, but neither did he follow God. Instead, he relied and operated purely on the human level. God gave him a remarkable set of evidence that God was with him. And God did use him and strengthen him, but he still remained spiritually dark.
But that was what the people wanted. They didn’t want a pure pagan, but they didn’t care very much about his character or about his wisdom or spirituality. They wanted good things, things government should do. But they didn’t care about a godly man.
What is your conception of leadership, whether you are a leader or a follower. It matters.