Introduction
Isaiah 55:8 NLT
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
Samuel 10 NLT
Samuel Anoints Saul as King
10 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession. 2 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’
3 “When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.
5 “When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. 6 At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. 7 After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. 8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.”
Samuel’s Signs Are Fulfilled
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?”
12 And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is even Saul a prophet?”
13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. 14 “Where have you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant.
“We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.”
15 “Oh? And what did he say?” his uncle asked.
16 “He told us that the donkeys had already been found,” Saul replied. But Saul didn’t tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.
Saul Is Acclaimed King
17 Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the Lord at Mizpah. 18 And he said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. 19 But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”
20 So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”
And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.
24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”
And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent the people home again.
26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 10 NLT
Samuel Anoints Saul as King
10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head.
Samuel anoints Saul in a private ceremony.
Signifying a setting aside for God’s choice for God’s service.
He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his (The Lord’s) special possession.
Note: The people of Israel belong to God, not to Saul.
Deuteronomy 4:20 NLT
20 Remember that the Lord rescued you (Israel) from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today.
The King of Israel is to act as a manager, not an owner.
- God appointed Saul to be ruler over Israel.
- Israel was God’s special possession.
2 When you leave me today,
- Saul was told that he would experience three signs.
The first sign:
you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin.
Saul is told what will happen and where this will take place.
The precise location is unknown to us.
They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’
The second sign:
3 “When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine.
Most likely the items they were bring were intended for the sacrificial meal.
4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.
Giving a portion of this food to Saul symbolizes a recognition of Saul’s divine appointment as king.
Again, Saul is told what will happen and where this will take place.
The third sign:
5 “When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located,
you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying.
Again, Saul is told what will happen and where this will take place.
Praising God.
Declaring the Word of the Lord.
6 At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
Saul will be changed into a different person.
God can change lives.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
See verse 9
Saul was being equipped to carry out a new role.
- For each of the three signs, Saul was told what would happen and where this event would take place.
- These three signs were to convince Saul that he in fact had been chosen to be Israel’s king.
Again, God’s sovereignty is clearly seen throughout this story.
FYI (some interesting details about Gibeah)
Gibeah:
Gibeah “of God” (this city belongs to God even if it is occupied by the Philistines.)
Also called: Gibeah, Gibeah of Benjamin, Gibeah of Saul.
Gibeah is located in the land given to the tribe of Benjamin.
Gibeah was Saul’s birthplace and continued to be his residence until he became king.
Gibeah had a history of being a perverted and lawless city according to Judges 19-21.
A man, his concubine, and his servant decided to spend the night in Gibeah.
Judges 19:22 NLT
22 While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, “Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him.”
Unbelievable perversion and violence takers place.
The story ends with:
Judges 20:48 NLT
48 And the Israelites returned and slaughtered every living thing in all the towns—the people, the livestock, and everything they found. They also burned down all the towns they came to.
Later in the narrative Saul’s sons and grandsons were executed by the Gibeonites.
2 Samuel 21:6 NLT
6 So let seven of Saul’s sons be handed over to us, and we will execute them before the Lord at Gibeon, on the mountain of the Lord.”
Gibeah was occupied by the Philistines.
7 After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you.
This is directed to Saul but is also a message for each of us.
Take the appropriate action. God’s presence in your life will enable you to do the right thing.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Philippians 4:13 NLT
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings.
You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.”
Samuel’s Signs Are Fulfilled
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.
As prophesied in verse 6:
6 At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
God changes hearts.
1 Samuel 16:13 NLT
13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.
All of Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.
- God gave Saul a new heart
10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them.
Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy.
A big change was taking place in Saul.
11 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?”
The people were surprised to see Saul acting like a prophet.
12 And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is even Saul a prophet?”
Just a reminder:
Jeremiah 32:17 NLT
17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!
- Nothing is too hard for God!
13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. 14 “Where have you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant.
“We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.”
15 “Oh? And what did he say?” his uncle asked.
16 “He told us that the donkeys had already been found,” Saul replied. But Saul didn’t tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.
Saul Is Publicly Acclaimed King
17 Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the Lord at Mizpah.
Previously at Mizpah
Judges 21:1 NLT
21:1 The Israelites had vowed at Mizpah, “We will never give our daughters in marriage to a man from the tribe of Benjamin.”
18 And he said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. 19 But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’
Israel was rejecting God’s ability to protect and save them.
Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”
20 So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.
21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them.
In spite of this process of casting lots, we know that Saul was chosen by God. God simply used the process of casting lots to fulfill his will.
(Not all translations say “by lot”.)
But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”
And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.
24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”
- Samuel tells the people that the Lord has chosen Saul to be their king.
And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
Here the people are accepting Saul as their king.
However, in the eyes of God Saul was disqualified. Remember the passages from our previous lesson:
Genesis 49:10 NLT
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants,
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
the one whom all nations will honor.
A long line of kings from Judah would retain the scepter.
1 Chronicles 5:2 NLT
2 The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation,
25 Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were.
- Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were.
The people had a wrong understanding of what the king’s role and function should be.
Israel’s king would not be like the kings of the other nations.
He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the Lord.
Presumably in the Tabernacle.
Deuteronomy 17:16-20 NLT
Guidelines for a King
15 … be sure to select as king the man the Lord your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.
16 “The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ 17 The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.
18 “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.
Then Samuel sent the people home again.
26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.
God changes hearts.
27 But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?”
They wrongly believed that their national security would come from a human being.
And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts.
These men were scoundrels because they scorned God’s chosen king.
But Saul ignored them.
- Many of the people accepted Saul as their king, some did not.
