Saul Chosen, and Anointed King of Israel
After God gave Israel over to her desire for a king, God anointed Saul son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, to lead and govern His people. He had looked upon them and heard their cry. Saul would be the vessel through whom God would deliver His people from the hand of the Philistines.
Saul seemed to have humble beginnings. When the man of God Samuel met Saul at the gateway of Zuph, and said to Saul,
"And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?” (I Samuel 9:20 NKJV),
Saul replied,
“Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?” (I Samuel 9:21 NKJV).
Saul's humble response is similar to those of Moses and David's when God sent them to lead and govern His people:
"But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NKJV)
[16] Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?" (I Chronicles 17:16 NKJV).
God tends to use humble servants to lead His people who say, "Who am I, Lord, that you would have me do this for you?".
"Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, 'Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?'" (1 Samuel 10:1 NIV).
The Lord God anointed Saul to be ruler over His inheritance. In other words, God installed Saul as the king of Israel, which in those days was the kingdom where God's holy people resided because He had set them apart for Himself.
Samuel prophesied to Saul three different things that would happen that day signifying that God had anointed Him as Israel's king. One of these signs was that the Spirit of God would come upon him, cause him to prophesy, and change him into a different person. Because Saul would be a changed person who would hear from God, speak on behalf of God, and be led by the Spirit of God, Samuel instructed him to do whatever was appropriate to lead His people because He was with him. Though Israel had rejected God by wanting to be led and governed by a human king, He still found a way to lead them Himself.
All the signs that were prophesied by Samuel were fulfilled that day, and God changed Saul’s heart. [10] "When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. [11] When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, 'What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?' [12] Then a man from there answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'” (1 Samuel 10:9-12).
If you recall, Jesus received a similar response from the folks in His hometown after He had begun His ministry:
[54] "When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? [55] Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? [56] And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” [57] So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” [58] Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:54-58 NKJV).
If you are serious about serving the Lord, whether you grew up in a Christian home, or came to faith in Christ later, you will experience the same thing from the people who know you. Even among Christians, because many of them are Sunday church people who do not truly follow Jesus, therefore they will be offended at you as they were at Jesus for being serious about God, rather than giving you honor for doing so.
Saul Proclaimed King of Israel
[17] "Then Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah, [18] and said to the children of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you.’ [19] But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.”
[20] And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. [21] When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found. [22] Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord answered, “There he is, hidden among the equipment.” [23] So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.
[24] And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
[25] Then Samuel explained to the people the behavior of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house." (I Samuel 10:17-25 NKJV).
God had chosen Israel's king who would deliver them from the Philistines to come from the tribe of Benjamin. God then chose Saul from the tribe of Benjamin as the deliverer. When Samuel presented him before all of Israel, they accepted him as their king.
Similarly, God chose Israel's King who would deliver them from sin and death to come from the tribe of Judah. He then sent Jesus from the tribe of Judah to them as their deliverer. However, when God presented Jesus before Israel, most did not accept Him as their King.
Samuel explained to the people how the king was to conduct himself, wrote it in a book, and laid it up before God. By doing this, the people could hold the king accountable, and God could hold both the king and them accountable.
Samuel then sent everyone back to their homes, and Saul returned home to Gibeah. Some valiant men whose hearts God had been touched went with him. These were some of his faithful followers who would become loyal subjects of his kingdom and commanders of Israel's army.
However, there were some men, "trouble makers", who despised Saul and questioned his ability to save Israel. By doing so, they questioned God's judgement regarding Saul. But Saul did not acknowledge them and kept peace... at least for the time being.
Again we see similarities between King Saul at this point in time, and King Jesus and His disciples. Like Saul’s followers, Jesus's disciples became loyal subjects of the Kingdom of which Jesus reigns over. They were faithful followers because they were of the faithful remnant of Israel. He enlisted them in His royal army by authorizing and commissioning them to engage in, fight for, and multiply His Kingdom.
However, there were "trouble makers" who despised Jesus when He came, and not only questioned His ability to save Israel, but totally rejected Him by refusing to believe that He was the Messiah whom God had sent to deliver them. Jesus said to them that if they reject Him, then they also reject God. This is because God is the one who sent Him, so if they reject Him, then they question God's judgement regarding Jesus, just as the "trouble makers" questioned God's judgement regarding Saul.
It is the same today. Many people, including modern day "Israelites", reject the notion that Jesus is King and/or that He has already established His eternal Kingdom on the earth. But Old Testament Israel, Saul at this stage of his kingship, and especially David, as we will see, give us hints and a glimpse of God's plan for His eternal Kingdom.
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