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1Sa9_2013M.doc

HE WILL DELIVER MY PEOPLE

1 Samuel 9:1-27

Key Verses 1 Samuel 9:15-16

[15] Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: [16] "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me."

Notice that the Lord says, "my people" three times in verse 16. "Leader over my people," "he will delivery my people," and "looked upon my people." In the previous passage his people demanded a king and rejected the Lord as their king. But he didn't reject them. He provided for them. They had their own idea why they wanted a king and what he would do. But in today's passage, the Lord provided a man over his people for his own purpose. It was not their idea who it was. It was not Saul's idea. It was not Samuel's idea. Today, we can learn of God who looked upon his people, received their cry, and provided for them to deliver them.

First, let's look at the background of Saul.

Look at verses 1-2.

[1] There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. [2] He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites---a head taller than any of the others.

Here we're introduced to Saul, the man God would send to be the king. We are told two things about him:

1) His father was a man of standing from Benjamin. Benjamin was the smallest of the tribes. But they produced many strong warriors. Recently, in the book of Judges, if you're following along through daily bread, we saw the Israelites attack the Benjamites. It took the power of the other eleven tribes to take on the tribe of Benjamin. Another meaning of "a man of standing," is, "a mighty man of power." God took from this tribe that has a history of fighting to fight and deliver his people.

2) He was "impressive, without equal among the Israelites," and tall. Being tall like this is still impressive. Although we cannot control how tall we are, we are impressed by someone like this. NBA players look normal on the court next to those of similar heights. But when they stand next to normal people, it is really impressive. Here is a picture of Yao Ming next to some runners. Here his Shaq next to a police officer. It looks impressive that he would serve and protect you.

Considering the purpose God had in mind for this man, it looked good that he sent such a man. It doesn't mean that only a tall man could be king. But it is good that God gave him the opportunity to use his tall body for his purpose.

Next we can see that it was God who sent Saul to Samuel. Look at verses 3-6.

[3] Now the donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys." [4] So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them. [5] When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let's go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us." [6] But the servant replied, "Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let's go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take."

Saul was on a journey to find lost donkeys at his father's command. He was not looking for Samuel. He was not looking to become a king. He even tried to turn back and go to his father empty handed, but his servant convinced him to go and see Samuel the man of God. And to see Samuel was still for the purpose of finding the lost donkeys.

Look at 1 Samuel 9:7-10.

[7] Saul said to his servant, "If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?" [8] The servant answered him again. "Look," he said, "I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take." [9] (Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, "Come, let us go to the seer," because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.) [10] "Good," Saul said to his servant. "Come, let's go." So they set out for the town where the man of God was.

Saul almost didn't go because of not having anything to offer to Samuel, but the servant persisted and offered to make the offering for him.

Look at verses 11-14.

[11] As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water, and they asked them, "Is the seer here?" [12] "He is," they answered. "He's ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. [13] As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time." [14] They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

At each junction it looked like Saul was resisting. But through the lost donkeys, the servant, and the girls of the town God sent Saul to Samuel. In fact, Samuel was coming toward them.

Look at verses 15-16.

Here God made his purpose and work clear.

First, he says, "I will send you a man."

God set the time, sent the man, and set the purpose. He provided for his people. It meant for Saul to be sent and Samuel to receive and anoint as God instructed.

This teaches us that God sends and provides for his people. Therefore, we ought to seek his purpose and provision. The people at the time were at a loss. They asked Samuel to give them a king. But God said, "I will send you a man." Samuel didn't have to worry by carrying that burden on his own. It was God's because they were his people. Some times we may want to show off how impressive we are, thinking we would be the good leader. Or we may think we have the right idea to establish the right person. But the people do not belong to us and ultimately we cannot give what is best. But God can and does for his people. It teaches us to be humble and prayerful, having faith in God. At the same time, leaders cannot send themselves over God's people.

For example, Moses wanted to be the leader for God's people. He thought he was a qualified candidate. He had an impressive background, was a man of standing and well educated. He had good intentions. He made a decision to not be considered as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, but to suffer as a Hebrew. He waged his own fight to save the Israelites. He ended up intervening in a fight between Israelites and killing an Egyptian. But no one regarded him as their leader. The Israelites rejected him, saying, "Who made you ruler and judge over us?" (Exodus 2:11-14). Could Moses say, "I made myself ruler and judge over you"? No. So, Moses was afraid and fled to the desert where he lived as a shepherd for 40 years. He only led sheep, not people. Moses didn't know that God had heard the cry of his people. It was not his burden alone(Exodus 2:23-25). It was God's for the people belong to God. When Moses was humbled after 40 years in the desert, and had given up on his own pursuit, then God called him and sent him back to Egypt to deliver his people and to be the ruler and judge over them. The Lord even had a difficult time to convince Moses to go and do the job. He was angry with Moses.

This reminds us Jesus' disciples. They also sought to be the greatest and fought amongst each other for the position. Look at Mark 9:33-35.

[33] They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" [34] But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

When Jesus asked them about their argument, they got embarrassed and quiet.

[35] Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Jesus taught them not to pursue being the greatest, but to be the very last and the servant of all. Jesus' teaching shows that we are not to pursue greatest in the way the world does. In the world, people are always climbing up, always making a name for yourself, and be on top. But Jesus says be last and the servant of all. We are to pursue humility and service. And here he says, the "very last" and the "servant of all." It means to really be at the bottom. This is contradictory to worldly thought. We think that if we are at the top we can be great and do something. But Jesus teaches to be the very last and servant of all, that is the way of true greatness.

Jesus showed us through his own example. At our new year's conferences, we studied the book of Philippians that focused on this humility and service of Jesus. Let's look at Philippians 2:5-11.

[5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death---even death on a cross! [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He made himself nothing and took the nature of a servant. He didn't take the nature of a leader, but of a servant. Our way should be the humble and serving example Jesus set for us. Greatness and the other stuff are in God's hands.

A leader is a servant. He is God's servant. Even Moses was not called, "Moses, the leader of the Israelites," or, "Moses, the judge of the Israelites." Instead, he was called, "Moses, the servant of the Lord." How about Joshua? He was called, "Joshua, the...?" No, his title didn't even include his name. He was called, "Moses' aide." He was an aide to a servant. Paul began his letter to the Philippians by saying, "Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ." Sometimes I heard people say, "God has called me to be a leader." Maybe that is the case. But it is better to say, if something must be said at all, "God has called me to be a servant."

Second, he says, "I have looked upon my people..." God looked upon his people. He knew their condition very well, better than they did. They thought they knew their condition: not having a king like the other nations do. But God saw the need to be governed and delivered from the Philistines. We too may think we know the condition well and what we "need", but God knows better and provides. So what should we do?

Third, he says, "Their cry has reached me." He received their cry. It means that we ought to trust in him and pray. In the previous passage, their cry was that they needed a king to be like the other nations. They didn't know what their real problem was. But God knew what they really needed because he looked upon them and received their cry. It was not a cry for a king but a cry for help from oppression and their enemies. Samuel had not heard their cry as the Lord did. The Lord provided for them in his way for his purpose.

Let's look at the purpose again in verse 16. "[H]e will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines."

The purpose of the king was to deliver his people from their enemies.

This purpose of a king looks ahead to Jesus. In sending Jesus as our king, God had in mind the same purpose: to deliver his people from the hand of their enemies.

Right before the time Jesus was born (Mary was already pregnant), John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, spoke about him and said, in Luke 1:68-75,

[67] "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. [69] He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David [70]

[*it means, he has raised up a king]

(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), [71] salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--- [72] to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, [73] the oath he swore to our father Abraham: [74] to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear [75] in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Jesus was sent by God to deliver us from the hands of our enemies so that we can serve God. He is the true provision from God for his people. The enemies listed here are those that hate us and bring fear, that prevent us from serving in holiness and righteousness. Namely, it refers to the evil one, the devil, and to the power of sin and death. Jesus delivers us from them.

He has provided for us in Jesus. And Jesus provides shepherds for his people in his name. This teaches us to have faith in God who knows his people's needs and to pray.

Leadership is a sensitive issue. It can be easy to get consumed in who is to do what and so on and so on. But we should pray. Two weeks ago someone said, "Billy needs help in CBF." We should pray that God would send many to help care for our children. We need leadership and shepherds on the campus. Jesus said to ask for harvest workers to be sent out into the field. Rather than feel a heavy burden, we should pray.

Look at verses 17-20.

[17] 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." [18] Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?" [19] "I am the seer," Samuel replied. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. [20] As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father's family?"

When Samuel met Saul, he welcomed him and obeyed the Lord's word. He was happy when he did so. He did not make any judgment about him or criticize Saul, even though Saul did not know him. Samuel did not see himself as being replaced. He was a servant of God and he was still a servant of God even though Saul was there.

Look at verse 21.

Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?"

Saul was the one mindful about his background and position--too much. He felt uncomfortable about Samuel's words. Yet, Samuel welcomed him and began to help him see that he was sent by God for his purpose.

Firstly, he showed that God provided for his father in that the donkeys were found.

Secondly, he provided something for Saul and his servant to eat. Look at verses 22-24.

[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.

Remember that Saul was concerned that they did not have anything to give to Samuel, the man of God. But God provided something for them through Samuel. Samuel says that it was "kept for you" and it was "set aside for you for this occasion." God provided. It was important for Saul to see that God had provided for him to accept that God had sent him to overcome his self-consciousness.

In this way, God provided preparation for Saul through Samuel.

Look at verses 25-27.

[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."

Then Samuel prepared Saul to listen to a message from God. He had not heard a message from God before. Before he was put into service, he had to be prepared to listen to the word of God and know that he was serving God's purpose. Samuel gave him a quiet time and sent the servant ahead of Saul.

In serving the Lord's flock, we have to listen to his word. We may have made many plans for the new year and setting a direction or what not. But most of all we have to quiet ourselves and listen to the word of God. We are his servants to serve his flock.

In this way, God provided a leader--or, servant--to deliver his people. We learn that God looks upon his people, hears their cry, and sends the provision. Thanks be to God for sending Jesus who delivers us. And thanks to God for sending shepherds and harvest workers for his flock. If God has called us to serve, then we should humbly serve according to his purpose. If God has called us to welcome and prepare others, then we should do so accordingly.

I learned that I need to pray. I felt like a carried a heavy burden and that I could not do anything for the Lord. But I learn that he looks, hears, and provides. I have a lot of praying and serving to do.

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