Samuel Gathered the leaders of Israel together
September 8, 2019
Commentary
Saul returns home, and says nothing about the private anointing (vv. 14-16). He told his uncle about finding the donkeys with Samuel’s help, but Saul said nothing about the kingship. Samuel calls an assembly of all Israel. There, perhaps by use of Urim and Thummim, Saul is publicly identified as God’s choice for Israel’s king (vv. 17-27).
Samuel gathered the leaders of Israel together at Mizpah, a favorite place for assembly in Samuel’s day. After reminding them of their foolish insistence on having a king apart from the directive will of God, he set about to demonstrate God’s selection of Saul by a process of elimination (vv 18-19). The way Saul was chosen may seem like luck but actually the opposite is true. God had instructed the Israelites to use this method for consultation in times such as this (Num. 27:12-21). By lot or some similar means the choice was made from the tribe, of Benjamin, clan of Matri, and family, of Kish (vv. 20-21). But when Saul was chosen, he was nowhere to be found. Indicative of his unassuming humility were his initial attempts to avoid the glare of publicity (v. 22) and his refusal to be vindictive against those who ridiculed his selection as king (v. 27). But the masses were convinced of his eminent suitability for the high office and in jubilation cried out, Long live the king!
However, in the eyes of the Lord, Saul was disqualified. The prophetic word of Jacob was that the scepter (of kingship) would not depart from Judah (Gen. 49:10). The promised dynasty of kings which would eventually produce the Messiah must originate in Judah. Saul as a Benjamite could not, then, meet the basic prerequisite of lineage. Nonetheless the people had made their demand, and the Lord had acquiesced. All that Samuel could do was invest Saul with his authority and responsibility as outlined in a scroll prepared for this occasion of coronation (vv. 23-27). Undoubtedly the scroll included the Mosaic regulations for kingship (Deut. 17:14-17). Interestingly valiant men were immediately attracted to Saul in Gibeah
After the elders of Israel came to Samuel demanding a king God told him to grant their request. Acting on this Samuel sent his messengers throughout the tribes to summon the people to meet at Mizpah. This was the site where 25 years earlier Israel had renewed its covenant with the Lord and would now be the spot where God would lead in the choice of its first king (v. 17). Once assembled at Mizpah Samuel reminded the people of what their leaders had determined to do.
Application
It is easy for me to hide from important responsibilities because I am afraid of what others will think or because I am unsure of what the future holds. I need to prepare now to step up to the plate of any future responsibilities the Lord may put in my path. I need to count on God’s provision rather than my feeling of inadequacy.
1 Samuel 10:14– 27 (NET)
14 Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” Saul replied, “To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel.” 15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 Saul said to his uncle, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.
17 Then Samuel called the people together before the Lord at Mizpah. 18 He said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord God of Israel has said, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 19 But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, “No! Appoint a king over us.” Now take your positions before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.’”
20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Has the man arrived here yet?” The Lord said, “He has hidden himself among the equipment.”
23 So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. 24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people.” All the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. 26 Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some wicked men said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it.