Faith Like A Mustard Seed

Saul is anointed as king

Who was the man whom God would choose to lead Israel as their first human king?

Enter Saul…he was a fine young man, better looking than everyone else, and taller as well from his shoulders upward.  We find Saul journeying through the land in search of his father’s lost donkeys, along with one of his father’s servants.  Little did he know, God was leading him.

Saul, and the servant, came up to Samuel in the city, before he went up to bless the sacrifice and eat with the people.  There were four things that led to this meeting; Saul and the servant went out in search of the lost donkeys(I Samuel 9:3), the servant then convinced Saul that they should find Samuel for instruction(I Samuel 9:6), some servant women pointed out where they would find Samuel(I Samuel 9:13), and of course Samuel was in the city, just about to go up to eat with the people(I Samuel 9:14).  Now, some would say that these are all big coincidences, but we know differently based on what God tells us, so that we don’t have to be skeptical or cynical, right? 

Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, “Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.”  I Samuel 9:15-16

God had set up this situation, and He was fulfilling the request of the people, who had rejected Him, and discarded His warning about what would happen when the kings began to reign in Israel.  So, Samuel informs Saul that his father’s donkeys have been found, and asks him, “Isn’t the whole desire of Israel on you, and your family instead.  Saul was fairly humble, and told Samuel that he was from the smallest tribe in Israel, and the least of all the families, and asked him why he would speak to him in that way.  Saul didn’t yet know that he was chosen to be king.  When Saul and the servant went to eat with Samuel, they sat at the best places, and Saul was given the best portion of meat.  He was given a king’s portion. 

Before Saul and the servant returned home the next day, Samuel talked with Saul alone.  He poured oil on Saul’s head, kissed him, anointing him as king over Israel.  He told Saul what would happen after he left; he would receive bread from some travelers, and prophesy with some prophets, after God’s Spirit came upon him.  Samuel also told him to wait for him in Gilgal, where he would come down to offer sacrifices and peace offerings, and show him what else he was to do. 

And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.    I Samuel 10:9-10

People even began to ask if Saul was one of the prophets!  God was with Saul, and wanted to do great things through him, but how long would Saul allow it to last? 

Samuel called all of the people together to inquire of the Lord who would be chosen king before them.  The tribe of Benjamin was chosen, then the family of Matri, and then Saul was chosen.  When the people looked for him, they couldn’t find him.  When they inquired of the Lord again, He told them that Saul had hid himself in with the stuff!  Apparently, Saul didn’t want to be king.  However, the people ran to get him, and brought him out to make him king. 

Saul was Israel’s first king, chosen by God.  With God on his side, Saul could have been a great leader, by allowing God to work through him.  It all looks good for Saul at the start, but throughout the next series, we will see how Saul’s life, and his relationship with God, are ruined by the choices that he makes…

So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.  I Samuel 14:37

Dave Earley  http://www.init-2-winit.org/forum    http://www.init-2-winit.org/faithlikeamustardseed