The Word of God is so very rich! This week I read how God used Samuel to call Saul to be Israel's first king. If you haven't read I Samuel 9 and 10 lately, please do it today. You remember how Israel had cried out to God for a king. In this passage, God changes Samuel from a priest to a prophet, and changes Saul from a prophet to a king, but not without a little drama.
In chapter 9, Saul had been sent out by his father to look for some donkeys that had wandered off. Saul and his servant looked everywhere, and spent three days without finding them. Saul finally tells the servant, Look, we need to get back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and wonder what has happened to us. Besides, our provisions are almost gone--we didn't bring a whole lot of food or drink for an extended trip. But the servant says, Wait, we are near the place where the Prophet of God lives. Maybe he can tell us where our donkeys are, so we don't have to go home empty-handed. Saul agrees, and they take a little side-trip to see Samuel.
God told Samuel that Saul was coming, and that this would be the man who would be Israel's first king. So when Saul and his servant come up to see Samuel, he meets them with a flask of oil to annoint him. Samuel tells Saul that the donkeys have been found, so don't worry about them. As for food, Samuel invited Saul to a feast, one that had already been prepared for them. So God had a Promise, a Provision, and a Proposal.
God Completely Meets Our Needs
Samuel gave Saul three signs that would be fulfilled, so he would know that God was in charge of everything. Starting in I Samuel 10, verse two and following: "When you leave me here today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you have set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is saying, "What shall I do about my son?" ' Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, 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. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever you hand finds to do, for God is with you."
See, God knows we have needs: emotional needs, physical needs, and spiritual needs. And even though Saul had been away from his family longer than he had intended, and even though all his food was gone, and even though he had not been very religious prior to this, God met him where he was and took him where He wanted him to go. God assured him in the first sign that his father had not forgotten him; the men he met first told him that his father was not worried about the donkeys but was worried about him. If I had been in that position, I would have been encouraged by that. Not only did it show that my family had been thinking of me, but it fulfilled what the man of God had said. Next, when they had gone a distance on their journey, and were probably going to be hungry, they met three men who, like the Magi, were bearing gifts. One of the men would give Saul and his servant bread to eat. This was God's way of meeting Saul's physical needs. The third sign was when they came upon a parade, with music, dancing and prophesying. But Saul didn't just stand by and watch. He joined in; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and allowed him to exercise a spiritual gift. This was a sign not just for Saul, but for the people. Remember, Saul stood a head taller than everyone else; so when he joined in the prophesying, all eyes were drawn to him. God had special things in store for Saul, and he was equipping Saul in a special way.
God Completely Changes Our Hearts
Beginning in verse 9: "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying. 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?' "
Just like Samuel had said, God changed Saul's heart. He sent His Holy Spirit to come upon Saul, and as a result Saul exhibited an outward gift, that of prophesy. Saul had never prophesied before. He had probably never even thought about God all that much--maybe during the annual sacrifices at the High Places (this was before the Temple was built).
I don't know about you, but this is very encouraging to me. God can take me from where I am, completely change my heart, and allow me to do things I could never do before, in situations I would never find myself in without God's direct help. Praise the Lord!
God Completes His Plan, Despite Our Disobedience
From verse 25 on to the end of the chapter: "Samuel explained to the people the regulations of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people, each to his own home. Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. But some troublemakers said, 'How can this fellow save us?' They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent."
Why would the men despise Saul? Because they had seen what he had done after Samuel anointed him king. Samuel had invited him to a feast given in Saul's honor, and had seated him at the head of the table. Samuel had even given him permission to gloat, so to speak, when he said "do whatever your hand finds to do, because God is with you." And after the signs that God had shown Saul, he should have been shocked and awed at the power given to him to do good. But instead, Saul hid. In verses 17 through 24, it tells how Samuel gathered all the people together, and said God has chosen your king today. He inquired of God, and separated the people, clan by clan. The tribe of Benjamin was chosen, Kish's family was chosen, and Saul was chosen among the family of Kish. But where was Saul? He was hiding among the luggage.
Here was a man that stood head and shoulders above the others, cowering in the shadows. He had seen God's power and provision, yet he was afraid. Like Jonah, he ran. Like Moses, he was ready to tell God "NO!" This was not extraordinary humility--this was cowardice. Thankfully, God found him and used him for His purpose anyway.
See, when God calls us, and covers us, and fills us with His Spirit, this does not mean we are perfect. We will fall. I John 2:1-2 says, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." If the whole law stopped with the first sentence of that verse, we would be doomed. But God allowed a sacrifice for sin--in Saul's time, it was sheep and bulls; but in the fulfilment of time, it was Jesus Christ Himself who became a sacrifice for us. This same Jesus defends us before the Father in Heaven, so that instead of condemnation, we have comfort; instead of death, we have deliverance; instead of hell, we have heaven.
What about you? Will you let God change you? Will you allow Him to change your heart, and take you to places that no eyes have seen and no mind can conceive? Give Him your heart, and let him forgive you today.
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