Havasu Christian Church
Series in I Samuel
June 16, 2024
I Samuel 9:1-10:16
“Saul had the makings of a good king! At least it looked that way…”
INTRO: Happy Father’s day! Today as we study I Samuel, we get introduced to Saul for the first time. Saul is still living in his father’s household, and his father is his boss.
God chooses Saul to be the king that the people have asked for! (Actually, demanded.)
Saul seems to “have the makings” of a good king, and for a little while, he was.
Let’s “get acquainted” with young Saul and see what there is to learn from his interaction with Samuel.
1 Samuel 9:1–21 & I Samuel 10:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
- Saul has a lot going for him.
- His Father is a “Mighty man of Valor.”
- We aren’t told how he came to be known this way, but we do know some things about him.
- He is strong.
- He has “working man’s muscles.”
- He is undoubtedly also a man of strong character.
- Think of a John Wayne character without the cowboy hat.
- He is brave.
- At some point in his life, he has been called upon to show that bravery.
- It may have been in battle.
- It could have been the way he stepped up in a crisis in their village.
- Maybe he saved his family from a burning building?
- Whatever Kish did, he was known for both his strength and his bravery.
- People would assume that this kind of man would “rub off” on his son Saul.
- Saul is also a handsome man.
- No one is more handsome in Israel.
- No one in Israel is taller than him as well.
- Saul really stands out in the crowd.
- He looks the part of a king!
- Saul has some of the qualities that a king should have.
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.”
4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, or else my father will cease to be concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious for us.”
6 He said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.”
7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way.”
9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.)
10 Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
12 They answered them and said, “He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.
13 “As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once.”
14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.
- Saul is conscientious.
- He is looking for his father’s lost donkeys.
- He has been given a job and he is not going to give up easily.
- But he comes to the point where he knows his family will begin to worry about him.
- He is about ready to give up and head for home when his servant has the idea that they should “consult the man of God.”
- Saul is willing to listen to good advice.
- His servant has a good idea and Saul is humble enough to listen.
- So, they go to see Samuel.
- God has revealed to Samuel that they are coming and that this is the future king.
15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel saying,
16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.”
- God is going to give the people of Israel exactly what they think they want.
- Tall,
- Good looking,
- Son of a “mighty man of valor.”
- He’s the total package!!!
- Saul and Samuel meet.
- Saul doesn’t know Samuel.
18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
19 Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind.
- Samuel reveals himself and invites Saul to eat with him.
- Samuel promises to “tell him all that is on his mind.
- He isn’t talking about donkeys.
- He puts Saul at ease about the donkeys.
- He also tells Saul that he’s kind of a big deal!
20 “As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?”
- Saul gives a good reply.
21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”
- It appears that Saul is genuinely being modest. He doesn’t seem to be acting in a prideful way.
- “I’m not a big deal.
- My tribe is the smallest.
- My family isn’t important.
- Why are you saying this to me?
(In verse 22-27, Samuel honors Saul at a banquet, and puts him and his servant up for the night. When morning comes, Samuel asks Saul for a private conversation with him.)
- Saul is anointed King!
I Samuel 10:1 Then 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?
- Samuel then prophecies 4 things that will happen, so Saul will know that what Samuel has done will come to pass.
- He will meet 2 men in a specific place who will tell him that the donkeys have been found and that his dad is worried about him.
- At another very specific place, 3 men will meet him. One will be carrying 3 young goats, another will have 3 loaves of bread, and the last will have a jug of wine. They guy with the bread will give them 2 loaves.
- At another very specific place, Saul and his servant will meet a group of prophets. They will have very specific instruments and they will be prophecying.
- Finally, Samuel tells Saul (vs 6-9) “Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man. “It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you. Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.
- Saul leaves Samuel, believing that what he said is true.
- God “changed his heart.”
- Was Saul persuaded? Did God rewire his brain?
- God is capable of either.
- Things happen exactly the way Samuel said they would.
- The prophecies come perfectly true!
What can we learn from Saul and Samuel today?
- God fulfills His promises!
- The people of Israel asked for a king.
- God Promised a King.
- A king is what they got… a king that fulfilled all their wishes in what a king should be.
- When God gives us a promise, we KNOW He will faithfully carry it out!
- God used a regular situation to bring about His will.
- I suspect that “disappearing donkeys” happened all the time.
- There was no “Fire & Smoke on the mountain.”
- No parting of the red sea.
- Just some dumb donkeys who got out of their pen and took off.
- But God used this ordinary event to carry out His will… to show Saul His will.
- God gave Samuel the insight to recruit Saul.
- The two had never even met.
- But God brought them together and used Samuel to “offer the job” to Saul.
- If someone godly asks you to do something for Jesus, God may be speaking through them.
- When God wants us to do something, He’ll make it plain!
- Saul had the 4 things happen that proved beyond a doubt that God’s hand was in this.
- God will do the same thing for us!
- God “Changed Saul’s heart.
- However God did it, Saul was, at least for a time, a different man.
- Don’t wait for God to Change you!
- Take an active part in that change.
- God Spirit came upon Saul in a mighty way.
1 Samuel 10:10 When they came to the hill there, behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him mightily, so that he prophesied among them.
- If you are a Christian, you don’t have to wait for the Holy Spirit to “come upon you.”
- He’s already living inside you!
- Are you listening to His leading?
