Saul is Chosen as King

Topic: Deceit
Passage: 1 Samuel 9:15–27

February 21, 2021

Commentary

God had told Samuel all about Saul (vv. 15-16). As soon as Samuel sees Saul the Lord tells him this is the man who shall reign over my people (v. 17). He was a man who impressed even Samuel. When Saul asks to see the seer, Samuel identifies himself and instructs Saul to precede him to the high place (vv. 18-19). Saul was actually not God’s choice. That is, He gave Israel the sort of man He new they wanted. As Saul moved among the people, they say that he was tall, handsome, and looked like a king. God just granted them a king because they wanted one. Although Saul had been called by God and had a mission in life, he struggled constantly with jealousy, impulsiveness and deceit. He never did give himself completely to God and thus he never did become God’s man. Like a small boat being tossed around on the ocean in a storm, Saul vacillated between his feelings and his convictions.
Saul had been out looking for his father’s long-eared donkeys that had already been found (v. 20). He tells Samuel that he is the least in the smallest tribe in Israel, which sound like a statement of humility, but his actions soon show that this was not a characteristic of his life at all (v. 21). It is interesting to note that Saul’s display of humility draws no response from Samuel, who proceeds with the well organized anointing ceremony of Saul as king (v. 22). It appears that Saul did not want to accept the responsibility that God was giving to him but he did like the idea of being king and having everyone look up to him.
Apparently Samuel had called a small group of leaders together. In this passage it explains the formality that they went through (vv. 23-27). Saul ate with Samuel that day, and they had a conference. After they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel continued his discussion with Saul on the top of his house. After a night of rest Samuel gets Saul up early in the morning and takes him to the edge of the city where he proceeds to give him a challenge from the Word of God and then sends him on his way. It is interesting to me to see how this new leader of Israel is counseled and challenged by the man of God before he is turned over the leadership reins of the whole country. In comparison we are now living in a country where there is lots of discussion about the division of Church and state and where there is major effort to remove God, the Bible and Christian symbols from all areas of governmental ceremony and function. As we see more and more reference to God and the Bible being removed we see more and more of our freedoms taken from us.

Application

God has given me a job to do. He will never ask me to do something that He will not give me the ability to perform. I should never try to portray a sense of false humility, but just do the job God has asked me to do and give Him the credit for all that is accomplished.

1 Samuel 9:15– 27 (NET)

15 Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told Samuel: 16 “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecrate him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me.”

17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “Here is the man that I told you about. He will rule over my people.” 18 As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

19 Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking. 20 Don’t be concerned about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?”

21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the clans in the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you—the one I asked you to keep with you.”

24 So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. 26 They got up at dawn and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, so I can send you on your way.” So Saul got up and the two of them—he and Samuel—went outside. 27 While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” So he did. Samuel then said, “You remain here awhile, so I can inform you of God’s message.”

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