SCRIPTURE: 1 SAMUIEL 10
Samuel took a flash of oil and poured in on Saul’s head saying: “The Lord has anointed you leader over his inheritance” (v.1) Then he told him the following signs:
- You will meet two men near Rachels tomb at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys you set out to look for had been found. And your father is worried about you. (v. 2)
- Go in from there till you reach the great tree of Tabor. You will meet three men. One will be carrying 3 young goats, another 3 loaves of bread and another, a skim of wine. They will greet you and offer you 22 loaves of bread which you will accept from them. (vs. 3-4)
- You will go to Gibeah of God where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approached the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down for the high places with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them. and you will be changed into a different person (vs. 5-7)
- Then go down ahead of me to Gilgal and wait for me 7 days until I come. (v. 8)
SAUL MADE KING (vs. 9-27)
As Saul arrived at Gibeah, all these signs were fulfilled. Saul joined with the prophets in prophesying. The people were amazed why Saul was among those prophets. Then Saul’s uncle asked Saul where did he go. Saul told him that he was looking for donkey and he went to to ask from Samuel.
Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah and told them that since they had rejected God and wanted a king, so now present their tribes by clan. Then the tribes of Benjamin was chosen and Samuel presented Saul to be their king. He explained to the people the regulations of the kingship and wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord as a witness in a special place at Mizpah.
Saul went home in Gibeah accompanied by valiant men but some trouble makers despised him and brought him no gifts.
THOUGHTS:
God was the king of Israel but the nation demanded a human king to be their leader. Are you rejecting God by putting him aside and acknowledging someone or something as a “king” of “top priority”? Don’t push God aside. Let Him guide you.
When the Israelites assembled to choose a king, Saul already knew that he was the one. Instead of coming forward, he hid among the baggage. We often hide from important responsibilities because we are afraid of failure, afraid of what people will think with no confidence of how to proceed. Step up to your future responsibilities by counting on God’s provision rather than your feelings of inadequacy.
Some men acknowledged Saul but others despised him. As a leader, there are people who will support you and there are also those who will oppose and criticize you. Listen to constructive criticism and focus your attention on those who are ready and willing to help. Do not waste your valuable time worrying about those who may oppose you.