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“You Can't Ask For A Better Start” • 3.29.15 • Calvary
Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Israel as a
nation has spoken: They want a King to rule over them, in order to be like the
other nations. They wanted a man to follow, who would lead them in battle.
- After disclosing the national cost, both
personally and financially for the nation, Samuel has dismissed the nation back
to their homes. This would not be a democratic process.
- God is going to give them a man that will fit
the bill. In this section, we are introduced to him as he is quietly led to
Samuel and privately annointed King.
Intro.
• I Samuel
9:1,2
: "There was
a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the
son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a choice and handsome
son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the
children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the
people." : The Holy Spirit introduces us to a Benjamite living among
Benjamites. In the closing chapters of Judges, you'll recall that this tribe
was very nearly wiped out.
- In God's mercy,
there are families and among them, a very influential man of substance named
Kish. The pride and joy of Kish's family was his son Saul or
"Desired."
- According to
genealogical records, Saul was the only son. We meet him in his late 20's and
are told that he was pleasant on the eyes!
- He was Israel's
sexiest man alive in the prime of his life! He was good looking and tall. He
stood head and shoulders above the rest of the nation!
- Physically, he is
the perfect looking individual to begin a monarchy with. He was a good looking
man and an obedient son. Look at verse 3.
• I Samuel
9:3-5
: "Now the
donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, 'Please
take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.' So he passed through the mountains
of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then
they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he
passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. When they had come to the land of
Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, 'Come, let us return, lest my
father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us.'" : Kish
traded in donkeys, beasts of burden, which were the proverbial "work
truck" of that ancient day.
- Having sent
Saul, you get the idea that this was a significant loss.
- Their trip was
approximately 30 miles in radius and they had no luck. They were out long
enough that Saul feared that Kish would become anxious over their safety.
- He's ready to
return, perhaps even quick to quit. But his servant presses him to continue.
• I Samuel 9:6-14 : "And he said to him, 'Look now,
there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he
says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way
that we should go.' Then Saul said to his servant, 'But look, if we go, what shall
we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no
present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?' And the servant answered Saul again
and said, 'Look, I have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver. I will
give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.' (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he
spoke thus: 'Come, let us go to the seer'; for he who is now called a prophet
was formerly called a seer.) Then Saul said to
his servant, 'Well said; come, let us go.' So they went to the city where the
man of God was. As they went up the hill to
the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, 'Is
the seer here?' And they answered them and
said, 'Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to
this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place. As soon as you come into the city, you will surely 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 about this time you will find him.' So they went up to the city. As they were
coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to
the high place." : In verse 6,
you can see that the servant had no desire to break off the search early at
Saul's suggestion.
- The servan'ts
suggestion keeps them looking longer, with the prospect of divine help in Samuel.
Saul is hesitant to insult the seer by asking a question and not preparing a
gift.
- It's not that
Samuel had a fee. It was simply a matter of respect, which the servant's money
will help. The entire episode leads them to the place where Samuel is about to
perform a sacrifice.
- Unbeknownst to
these men, a sovereign plan has been unfolding. In their minds, they happen
into the right city at just the right time.
- God has been
using a very practical financial concern to keep them in and near this place.
- These men were
simply going about their business, but it was a divine set up.
- As soon as they
move forward, there is Samuel coming right to them! Look at verse 15.
• I Samuel
9:15-17
: "Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day
before Saul came, saying, 'Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of
Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may
save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My
people, because their cry has come to Me.' So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, 'There he is, the man
of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.'" : At the
same time that Saul was chasing his Father's donkeys, God was speaking in the
ear of His prophet letting him know that He was sending him Israel's future
King.
- God was going
to give the people their man who would rescue Israel from the Philistines. God
had heard them and when Samuel looked upon Saul, God affirmed that he was the
man.
- Can you
imagine? Saul has no idea who he is! God and Samuel are looking at Israel's
future.
- Saul is not
looking for it. He has no political aspiration. He is completely focused on
donkeys! Such are the men that God chooses. They are men plowing the field,
mending the net, etc.
- Like Saul, you
may not have any clue what God is preparing to lay on you, but it's unfolding
naturally and coming at a time when you are ready!
• I Samuel
9:18-21
: "Then Saul
drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, 'Please tell me, where is the seer’s
house?' 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 tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you
all that is in your heart. But as for your
donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they
have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and
on all your father’s house?' And Saul answered
and said, '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 like this to me?'" : Samuel is quite taken with
Saul, despite Saul's ignorance of Samuel. The Prophet invites him along to eat
with him.
- He tells him
that he'll be staying in town overnight and assures him that he'll answer all
of his questions tomorrow. For Saul, the only question on his mind were the
donkeys!
- Samuel puts his
mind at ease and seemingly lost in the moment, looks at him with wonder.
- I like the
NLT's rendering of verse 20: "And I am here to tell you that you
and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes." Saul or
"Desired" represented Israel's desire!
- Saul can't
conceive of why Samuel is speaking this way! When we hear him speak to Samuel,
we hear an honest assessment of his situation, a refreshing humility in the
face of the call.
- He was from the
tribe of Benjamin, a tribe still recovering from the civil war losses that were
incurred in Judges 20. In Saul's
mind, his family was the least in all of the least!
- He was a nobody
from nowhere! Saul's honest and open humility is truly admirable. He knows that
there is nothing special about him and that is exactly how it should be!
- God can use
anyone from anywhere to do anything that He purposes to bring to pass! You and
I are privileged, but we are incidental! Saul at this tender age, knew that
this was the case.
• I Samuel
9:22-25
: "Now
Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and had them sit
in the place of honor among those who were invited; there were about thirty
persons. And
Samuel said to the cook, 'Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said
to you, ‘Set it apart.’ So the cook took up the thigh with its upper part and set it before
Saul. And Samuel said, 'Here it is, what was kept back. It was set apart for
you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you, since I said I invited
the people.' So Saul ate with Samuel that day. When they had come down from the high
place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the top of the house." : Saul enjoyed a sumptuous feast
that had been reserved for his honor as King, though he was unaware of it.
- He sat in the place of honor and
when the very best pieces of meat came out for him exclusively, you have to
believe that everyone knew they were in the presence of someone great.
- After the meal, they went back
up to their lodging place and adjourned to the roof for the evening
conversation and the rest of the night was filled with Samuel speaking to Saul.
- What did Samuel spend the
evening saying? Did he speak of the coming Kingdom and the current search for a
King? Did he share the Lord's heart about what he expected from the monarchy?
- We aren't told, but we know that
this was a monumental conversation for Saul.
• I Samuel 9:26-I Samuel 10:1 : "They arose early; and it was about
the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house,
saying, 'Get up, that I may send you on your way.' And Saul arose, and both of
them went outside, he and Samuel. As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel
said to Saul, 'Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.' And he went on. 'But you
stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God.' Then
Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said:
'Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?" : It was not
a rare thing for a traveler to have to spend the evening after a great feast.
Hospitality was expected.
- Saul and his
servant began their journey at first light. As they approached the city limits,
Samuel decides that it's time to lay it on Saul. Literally!
- Samuel
announced God's decree to Saul and took out a flask of oil and annointed,
poured out oil over the head of the first the first official King of Israel,
symbolizing what God was about to do.
- Saul must have
been amazed at what had happened! Was this a dream? Who would ever believe what
has happened to him? It's likely that he didn't even believe it, so he is given
signs.
• I Samuel
10:2-8
: " When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by
Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you,
‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father
has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, 'What
shall I do about my son?’ Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the
terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet
you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread,
and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which
you shall receive from their hands. After that you shall come to the hill of God where the
Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the
city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place
with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and
they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be
turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the
occasion demands; for God is with you. You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come
down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings.
Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.'" : Samuel
offers Saul three signs: Men will confirm the donkeys safe return, other men
will meet and greet him with bread and wine, and a group of prophets will meet
him prophesying.
- In the first
sign, Saul will be relieved of his worldly duty. His concern over the donkeys
and his Father's business will have passed and his job as an errand boy will be
a part of his past!
- On the next leg
of his journey, he meets the men with the goats, the loaves and the wine. They
are going up to sacrifice the Lord. The use of bread and wine is in no way coincidental.
- In Genesis 14:18, Abraham pays a tithe of
his spoils to Melchizedek, he does so over the taking of bread and wine! Saul
was to receive this from their hands, a picture of communion.
- When we take
communion, we receive afresh a promise made to us in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Before Saul can experience the next sign, there must be a picture of covenant
fidelity.
- Taking the
bread and wine for us is an outward symbol and confession of what we believe
inwardly, namely that Jesus Christ has earned a reward which has been bestowed
upon us!
- After that, for
Saul, the third sign involved a Philistine garrison on the hill of God!
"Don't pay attention to them. Look out for the group of prophets that will
be worshipping and prophesying."
- God is revealing
to Saul that the enemy, in this case the Philistine garrison, must be seen in
light of the priority of God's worship! Worship, a properly centered heart, is
key to spiritual victory!
- Now at that
time, Samuel promises an outstanding experience. The Spirit of the Lord would
come upon Saul.
- Men in the Old
Testament, at various times, were endowed with a presence of God's Spirit
empowering them for an extraordinary task. Saul was going to be the King of
Israel.
- He would first
need the Holy Spirit to make him a man of prophesy, the Word and a man that he
wasn't if he was to serve the Lord effectively!
- Samuel says
that when the Spirit was upon him, that he would be another or a different man!
- For spiritual
service, you cannot hope to be a better version of yourself. Pray for God to
make you different! That is what a person is who is endowed with God's Holy
Spirit!
- Consider the
disciples. Before Pentecost, they were fearfully hidden away in an upper room.
- After
Pentecost, these men proclaimed Christ openly and confronted the establishment
that was responsible for condemning Jesus to death! They were different men
indeed!
- The difference
was the promised coming of the Holy Spirit to empower them to be witnesses!
- Because the
Holy Spirit has come, there is a command and mandate for us as New Testament
believers to be filled full with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) What
will that look like?
- There will be
authority and confidence, boldness and effective power to be a witness for the
reality of Christ! And what shall Saul do? What shall we do?
- Notice the
practical words of Samuel: Do according to the occasion! Surrender to the
demands that are before you!
- When you hear
of the Donkeys, give to the Lord gratefully. When you are given the bread, take
it and eat heartily. When you are invited to sing and speak God's Word, do it
passionately!
- Why? Because
God was with Him in those moments! From there, Saul would wait for Samuel for a
week at Gilgal, when he would receive further instructions.
- Make note of
this: Saul is the King, but Samuel is the one that he is to wait for. This is
an important precedent to consider.
• I Samuel
10:9-13
: "So it
was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another
heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill,
there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him,
and he prophesied among them. And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he
indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, 'What
is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?' Then a man from there answered and
said, 'But who is their father?' Therefore it became a proverb: 'Is Saul also
among the prophets?' And when he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place." : In the
moment that Saul went out from Samuel, God gave Him another heart!
- Isn't that wonderful?
With the call, came the equipment for the call! As Saul walked in the direction
of that call, every sign that Samuel gave him came to pass.
- A Christian
doesn't wait for proof to walk. He or she walks obediently and sees the truth.
- The author tells
us only of the final sign, which saw Saul experience the Spirit upon Him and he
prophesied, which was unheard of among a person without heritage.
- That is the
thought behind the last few phrases. Saul was speaking as one of them without
any previous training or upbringing!
- This occcasion
inspired a saying that became a widely circulated. "If God can do this
with a son of Kish, he can do it for anyone!" Truly, God is able to do
extraordinary things with anyone!
- As promised, Saul
went to the high place and waited on Samuel appearance.
• I Samuel
10:14-16
: "Then
Saul’s uncle said to him and his servant, 'Where did you go?' So he said, 'To look for the
donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel.'
And Saul’s uncle said, 'Tell me, please, what Samuel
said to you.' So Saul said to his uncle, 'He
told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.' But about the matter of the
kingdom, he did not tell him what Samuel had said." : At the
high place, Saul ran into his uncle who wanted to know what had happened to him
and what Samuel had said to him.
- Saul tells his
Uncle about the donkeys, but not about the Kingdom. While much has been made
about this, I am convinced that Saul wanted Samuel to make the announcement.
- What good would
come from Saul reporting what had happened? Who would believe it? "I was
looking for donkeys when God's man annointed me to be the King of Israel!"
- This seems to
be the most plausible and indeed the most wise course of action.
Conclusion
- Saul
is set up privately. He has every, gift and privilege necessary. He has been
annointed and endowed with the Holy Spirit. God has equipped him for every
contingency.
- What
happens from here will be on Saul. We know what happens to him. What will
happen with you and I? Where will we go for Him? What will we be for Him?
-
Because Jesus Christ has paid our debt on a Roman cross, died to satisfy His
Father's wrath and rose to provide justification and eternal reward for us,
there is no ceiling!
-
Because His Holy Spirit will fill us full when we ask and seek that, there is
no excuse! May He find us fruitful for His cause!
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