SAMUEL ANOINTS SAUL

1 Samuel 10:1-27

Key Verse: 10:1

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?” 

Introduction: 

This passage shows how Samuel anoints Saul. The anointing not according to Samuel’s own way or human way standard. It’s done by the guidance of the Holy Spirit as well as God’s specific words of instruction. 

1.  Read verses 1-6. What does Samuel do to make Saul king? (1; 1Sa 9:17) How do these events show us Samuel’s obedience to God? (8:6-9; 9:22-10:1) What signs will confirm Saul’s anointing? (2-5) What will happen to Saul when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him? (6)

1-1) Read verses 1-6. 

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance? 2 When you leave me 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 set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’3 “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. 4 They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.

5 “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. 6 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. 

1-2) What does Samuel do to make Saul king? (1; 1Sa 9:17) 

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance? 

a) A leader is a person who leads with a good example.

The leader is like a manager. He is not an owner. But he will give account to the owner down the road.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.” 1 Sa 9:17

b) “to govern” means “to rule over by right of authority” that God allowed him in a certain limited place and time.

1-3) How do these events show us Samuel’s obedience to God? (8:6-9; 9:22-10:1)

a) First of all Samuel obeyed to anoint Saul according to what God had said.

Maybe Samuel was not willing from the beginning (1Sa 8:6-9; 9:22-10:1 quoted below), but he denied himself and wholeheartedly followed God’s direction. So he not only poured a flask of oil but also kissed Saul and blessed him positively. 

Chapter 8:6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.”

chapter 9:22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.” 24 So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day. 25 After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. 26 They rose about daybreak and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God.”

1-4) What signs will confirm Saul’s anointing? (2-5)

 Three signs described (underlined below).

“2 When you leave me 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 set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’ 3 “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. 4 They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. 5 “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.”

 1-5) What will happen to Saul when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him? (6)

 Verse 6 “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.” 

a) God gives Saul power through the Holy Spirit. And the power of the Spirit is that it can change people. 

Samuel says “you will be changed into a different person.” To change a person to the point they are almost unrecognizable is the amazing transformative power of the Holy Spirit. 

Also in verse 11, 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?" 

When people saw Saul, they said, “That looks like Saul. And smells like Saul. His voice sounds like Saul. But that’s not Saul.”

b) It is the Spirit of the Lord that changes each person. So we must rely on Him humbly. It is especially true with shepherding. We can help others with the Spirit.

We can experience such transforming work through the work of the Spirit in conjunction with the truth.

2.   Read verses 7-16. What instructions does Samuel give Saul? (7-8) What happens to Saul that day? (9) What happens when Saul and his servant arrive at Gibeah? (10) What response to people have to Saul’s unexpected behavior? (11-13) What does Saul’s uncle ask and how does Saul reply?  (14-16)

2-1) Read verses 7-16. What instructions does Samuel give Saul? (7-8) 

7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.10 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. 11 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?” 12 A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place. 14 Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?” “Looking for the donkeys,” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”

15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

2-2) What happens to Saul that day? (9) 

9 “As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.” All three signs were fulfilled that same day. 

2-3) What happens when Saul and his servant arrive at Gibeah? (10) 

10 “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.” 

2-4) What response to people have to Saul’s unexpected behavior? (11-13) 

11 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?”

12 A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.

2-5) What does Saul’s uncle ask and how does Saul reply?  (14-16)

“14 Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?”

“Looking for the donkeys,” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” 15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.”

a) Saul did not elaborate what had happened and keep this to himself until God’s times comes. 

Often times we ran into the same situation that our family members can not understand the work of God.  We do not want them to be a stumbling block. 

Like Saul we may keep our faith and be wise to lead our family members to the Lord and His will by faith. 

At God’s due time they will be eventually our coworkers in terms of prayer. 

3.  Read verses 17-24. What does Samuel tell the Israelites at Mizpah? (17-19) How is Saul chosen? (20-24a) How did the people respond? (24b)

3-1) Read verses 17-24. 

17 Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORDat Mizpah 18 and said to them, “This is what the LORD,the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ 19 But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses. And you have said, ‘No, set a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

20 When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the LORD said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”

Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

3-2) What does Samuel tell the Israelites at Mizpah? (17-19) 

17 “Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORDat Mizpah 18 and said to them, “This is what the LORD,the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ 19 But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses. And you have said, ‘No, set a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

3-3) How is Saul chosen? (20-24a) 

20 “When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the LORD said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”

3-4) How did the people respond? (24b)

“Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!””

4.    Read verses 25-27. What does Samuel do before dismissing the people? (25) How do two groups of people react differently when Saul goes home? (26-27)

4-1)  Read verses 25-27.

25 Samuel explained to the people the regulations of the kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the LORD. Then Samuel dismissed the people, each to his own home.

26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some troublemakers said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.

 4-2) What does Samuel do before dismissing the people? (25) 

25 “Samuel explained to the people the regulations of the kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the LORD. Then Samuel dismissed the people, each to his own home.”

a) He must have written Deuteronomy 7:14-20 regarding what a king must do before God who anoints him as a king over God’s people. 

Samuel did three things: explain (teach), wrote down on a scroll, and deposited it before the Lord. 

b) His ministry was based on the truthful words of God, not based on situation or his enthusiasm. 

c) God’s king should be different. Israel’s king was to be set apart and different. 

Mark 10:45. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

The King of Israel was not just a king. He was to be a shepherd king who served his people with grace and truth. 

This meant not being lord over them, but actually humbling himself to care for them.

4-3) How do two groups of people react differently when Saul goes home? (26-27)

26 “Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some troublemakers said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.”

In conclusion;

We learned how a king was established among the Israelites for the first time. Samuel was a king maker and Saul humbly followed his direction. Behind scene, God orchestrated all events to make him a king. Especially it is the Spirit of the Lord that changed Saul to be a leader. So we give a credit to the Spirit rather than Saul’s own human merit. Although Saul was anointed as a king, still he needed to go through many steps of training to be with the Lord first. Most importantly he needed to learn how to serve the people rather than to rule over them. Samuel even shepherded over him and the people with the regulation according to God’s standard and reminded them of their position as chosen people that is different from others. May the Lord raise up many young leaders who are filled with God’s Spirit and the truths. In this way America may be a kingdom of priests. Amen. 

One word: Has not the Lord anoint you leader?

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