From 1 Samuel 9-12

Overview

1 Sam 9.1-27; Story; Saul Chosen to Be King

1 Sam 10.1-16; Story; Saul Anointed King

1 Sam 10.17-27; Story; Saul Proclaimed King

1 Sam 11.1-11; Story; Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1 Sam 11.12-15; Story; The Kingdom Is Renewed

1 Sam 12.1-25; Story; Samuel’s Farewell Address

Passage and Comments

The people of Israel have the prophet Samuel asked for a king. Saul has been chosen. In today’s passage Saul comes to power. He is proclaimed the King. But is there a man still to come?

17 Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. 18 And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ (1 Sam 10.17-18)

The people have asked for a King to rule over them. Samuel relays to them what the LORD instructed him to say. The LORD brought them out of Egypt. He delivered them from the Egyptians (Exodus) and every other nation that oppressed them (Judges). It is the LORD who should be their king. How have they treated him in return. Samuel rebuked them.

19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.” (1 Sam 10.19)

They have rejected God. The LORD who saved them. Hard and true words. Yet the people do not grieve for what they have asked. They want another king.

Do you want the LORD to rule over you?

Samuel goes through with their request. He asks them to present themselves before the LORD. All their tribes, all the people. He will begin a process where he will choose their king.

20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. (1 Sam 10.20-21)

Samuel uses lots. A lot is one of a set of objects, such as straws or pebbles, drawn or thrown from a container to decide a question or choice by chance. By chance? No. The LORD is directing the lot to the person he has already chosen.

They start with all of the 12 tribes Israel. The first lot narrows it down to the tribe of Benjamin. Of all the clans in Benjamin, the second lot narrows it down to the clan of the Matrites. Of the clan of Marites, the last lot narrows it down to one man, Saul the son of Kish.

But they could not find him. The person they wanted as king. The person they rejected the LORD for as their king. Where is he?

22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” (1 Sam 10.17-27)

The LORD said he has hidden himself among the baggage. Embarrassed or shy? Is this what they expected of their king. They chose a man who hid from them when they should have chosen the LORD.

Is there a man still to come?

This is the question we should be asking. Is this truly the LORD’s chosen king? Is this the man you would chosen to be your king? Would you follow him?

23 Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (1 Sam 10.23-24)

With the LORD’s help they find Saul in his hiding space. They find out he is tall and perhaps they were impressed with that. The LORD has chosen for them a man hiding among the baggage. There is none like him among all the people. Irony.

Is there a man still to come?

25 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26 Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace. (1 Sam 10.25-27)

Samuel instructs the people and Saul in the rights and duties of kingship. This is what they wanted. Then all the people go home. They have their king. What does he do? He goes home as well.

He goes home with men of valor whose hearts God had touched.

Some worthless fellows, I call them ‘bogans’ mock him. ‘How can this man save us?’ they ask. Obviously the LORD is meant to use him.

‘How can this man save us?’ Saul holds his peace. What they said angered him, but he held his anger back. He chickened out. Saul doesn’t stand up for the LORD. He does not trust in the LORD.

Is there a man still to come?

Story of Israel

Saul has his moments. Unfortunately in the end he rejects God and God rejects him. God will raise up a king after him. He is a man after the LORD’s own heart. He proves to be much better than Saul. His name is David. But,

Is there a man still to come?

The LORD gave him a promise. Another man is still to come.

11 Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Sa 7:11–13)

The LORD will establish his throne and his kingdom forever.

Story of Jesus

Skip a while further and a man named Jesus drew many crowds. Some loved him, some wanted him dead. Jesus was taken prisoner. The king the people of Israel asked for and the one God has chosen has come. He is the Christ – the King. Jesus is the Christ.

He was not hiding among the baggage. He hung on the cross.

35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. (Mt 27:35–44)

Unlike Saul he bravely stood up for all to see. Worthless fellows ridiculed him. But, people whose hearts God had touched believed in him. He saved them.

On the third day God raised him from the dead.

Dont follow men who hide among the baggage. Believe in Jesus. Believe he is the risen Christ, follow him and you will be saved.

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