1 Samuel 10:1-27
Q.1. How did Samuel honour Saul? What accompanying signs were given to Saul to confirm his elevation? What would happen to Saul? What final instruction did Samuel give Saul? – (1 Sam.10:1-8)
After sending Saul’s servant home – Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you a ruler over His inheritance? (1 Sam.10:1). A number of accompanying signs were then given by Samuel: (i) Saul would be told by two men that the donkeys had been found, but that his father was now worried about him (1 Sam.10:2). (ii) He would meet three men about to make an offering at Bethel, with 3 goats, three loaves of bread, and a jug of wine. They would offer him two loaves of bread (1 Sam.10:3-4). (iii) He would then come across – … a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying (1 Sam.10:5). (iv) He should respond as seemed best to him, because God was with him and – Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man (1 Sam.10:6). (v) Then he was to wait another – … seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do (1 Sam.10:8). When David was anointed to be the next king, there were no signs (1 Sam.16:13). Why, then, were all these confirming signs given? (i) Saul was a reluctant leader, and needed confirmation that God was with him (1 Sam.10:7). (ii) Israel had not had a king before, so the signs would lend support to the fact that he was God’s choice. (iii) Saul would impatiently step in when Samuel delayed coming. God was likely teaching Saul to wait, and to explicitly obey His commands, plus those of His prophet (1 Sam.10:8 c.f. 1 Sam.13:8-13; 15:10-11).
Q.2. Did Samuel’s prophecies come to pass? What impact did Saul’s experience have on him and those who knew him? What do you think of the explanation Saul gave to his uncle? – (1 Sam.10:9-16)
All that Samuel had prophesied came to pass – Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day (1 Sam.10:9). Saul’s experience of prophesying made a deep impression on all who knew him (1 Sam.10:10-13). His uncle had heard about Saul’s meeting with Samuel and wanted to get the inside story. Though Saul told him about finding the donkeys – … he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned (1 Sam.10:16). Perhaps Samuel had warned him not to tell anyone until God had installed him to be king. Or it could be that Saul was genuinely a humble man (1 Sa.10:14-16 c.f. 1 Sam.15:17)?
Q.3. Why were the tribes called by Samuel to gather? How was Saul chosen? Did the people approve of the choice? What guidelines were provided for his kingship? Did they accept Saul as king? – (1 Sam.10:17-27)
Samuel then called all the tribes at Mizpah in the territory of Benjamin, to gather for the selection of their king (1 Sam.10:17-19). He reminded them of God’s faithfulness, and of their rejection of Him as their King (1 Sam.10:19). Firstly, the tribe of Benjamin was taken, and eventually Saul, the son of Kish was chosen by lot (1 Sam.10:20-21). Initially – … when they looked for him, he could not be found (1 Sam.10:21). He could not hide from God, Who told them – Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage (1 Sam.10:22). When they brought him into their midst – … he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward (1 Sam.10:23). Samuel told the people – … Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” Then all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!” (1 Sam.10:24). Samuel then wrote a book of instructions for establishing the kingship, which doubtless included the guidelines written by Moses (1 Sam.10:25 c.f. Dt.17:14-20). Saul went home to Gibeah, along with – the valiant men whose hearts God had touched (1 Sam.10:26). Gibeah had been almost wiped out when civil war arose in Israel over the degraded sins of these Benjamites (Jdgs.19-30; 20:13). Not everyone was convinced that this tall and shy man could deliver Israel from the Philistines (1 Sam.10:27).