1 Samuel Series Wk 8 - “No Excuse Faithful Walking”

 The story goes, that almost two-hundred and fifty years ago a war was raging. A man in civilian clothes was riding his horse when he came upon a group of soldiers digging a fortification. The man noticed that one of the soldiers was barking orders and telling the men to hurry up, but that soldier wasn’t helping to get the job done. 

The man stopped and asked the commander, “Why aren’t you helping if it’s that important that they get the job done?”

The leader responded, “Because I’m in charge, and if you feel so strongly about it, you get down there and help.”

The man got off his horse and helped the soldiers until the job was done. He congratulated and encouraged the men on a job well done. Then he approached the commander and told him, “You should notify top command next time your rank prevents you from supporting your men, and I will provide a more permanent solution.”

Now seeing the stranger up close, the commander recognize the man, it was George Washington, commander of the Continental Army.

Good leaders are those that will get into the dirt and help you dig. They inspire and give you an example to live by.

It’s this type of example to follow that brings us back to our Samuel Series, where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel chapter 12, starting in verse 1. As we open up to First Samuel 12:1, let’s look back on the last two weeks.

As we entered into the second section of First Samuel, we saw that the people had called Samuel to appoint a king for Israel, something that was in opposition to what God had desired for his people. Yet, God agreed and we saw that it was Saul who God had chosen. In the first time we saw Saul, he had a few commendable attributes, and a few weaknesses. Because of this, we walked away from that week with the understanding that each one of us may begin well, but it’s through self-evaluation before God that helps us end well.

Then last week, we saw the public appointment of Saul, his first victory, and the transition from the era of the Judges to the era of the monarchy. However, a thru line that was the undercurrent in the two chapters we covered, was that it was God who established and removes kingdoms, even as rulers seek to do what seems right to them. No matter the ruler, whether a king, a dictator, or a president, it is God who works all things for his purposes. 

With those two weeks afresh in our minds, we turn our attention to chapter 12, verse 1, of First Samuel. Let’s read together.

1 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” 4 They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” 5 And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”

6 And Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. 8 When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 9 But they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. 10 And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’ 11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. 12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king. 13 And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king. 16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

v.1-5 - The passage can be broken up into three sections. The first is verses 1-5. In these verses, we’re in the same moment where we left off in chapter 11 at the town of Gilgal. Saul has been affirmed as king of Israel, and it’s time for Samuel to transition out of being the leader. 

Here is Samuel’s goodbye and he asks the people if he has done anything wrong to them all the days that he has judged them. The people agree that Samuel has done nothing wrong. 

Samuel’s life shows what a godly walk looks like. Is it perfect? No, as we have seen his sons not follow his example. But in everything that Samuel could control, he has walked faithfully with God. Samuel has been faithful in leading  the people, he’s been faithful in considering and doing their will, and he has been faithful in treating people honestly. Samuel’s life is the type of life we should all aspire to. It is the type of life that will hear the words of Jesus, from Matthew 25:23, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It is the type of life that Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:6-8)” 

Each one of us should aspire to live a life that glorifies God, and Samuel has lead that type of life.

v.6-18 - This leads into the second section of Samuel’s farewell. He reminds the people of all that God has done for them. He reminds them of the Exodus, where God brought the people out of slavery in Egypt. Samuel reminds the people of all the times that God sent Judges to rescue them in their times of need, he includes himself in this, as one of the Judges. God had ruled them for hundreds of years in this way, saving the people time and time again. 

Yet, the people have asked for a king. They have rejected God as their king, and are now looking to a man. Because they have done this, Samuel warns them that if the king and the people follow God, there will be blessing, but if they choose to rebel against God, following their own desires, then all that awaits them is the judgment of God.

Samuel shows that his words of divine judgment on the people if they turn from God are true, because he calls on God to bring thunder and rain. This is miraculous because this takes place during the harvest season of Israel, where such rains are rare.

v.19-25 - And so the people call on Samuel to pray for them. To intercede on their behalf and avoid God's judgment.

It’s here that Samuel calls on them to realize that though they have done an evil thing in seeking a human king over God, God still cares for his people. God’s intention has always been to make a people for himself. God will not abandon Israel, even if Israel seeks to abandon God. And Samuel, won’t abandon his post either. He isn’t dead yet, and that means his calling hasn’t come to an end. Samuel will continue to pray on behalf of the people, and he will continue to walk the path as God leads him.

But the people must take seriously their role in following God, or else God’s judgment will come down, just as the rains have come.

We can walk away with two points from this chapter. First, each of us should seek to walk faithful to the end, as Samuel did. If we have put our faith in Jesus, our lives are to be honored back to him. They are to be a praise, a testimony, an example of his faithfulness to us. Jesus is the goal, and the path to that goal is lined with countless struggles and victories that resound with the glory of God. Jesus is seeking his people to be faithful disciples of his, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to the end.

The second point we can walk away with this is, each of us is responsible for our own walk with the Lord. The past two weeks I have been thinking a lot about past teens through the ministry here. I wish that each one would be walking faithfully with God. That each one would have accepted Jesus as their Savior. That each one would be living lives that glorify God. And I’ve been thinking about all the times that I have failed in being the godly example I should have been. I’ve thought of all the times I have failed, in my anger, in my joking. And there is this little voice in the back of my head that tells me it’s my fault for these teens not following God. If I was better, they would be better. Yet, I read Samuel and he’s a paragon of walking godly before people. Everyone agreed that he was faithful, and yet, his sons did not walk with God. It was under his tenure that Israel reject God’s kingship. 

I’m not saying that I shouldn’t do better, because I should, and through the Holy Spirit, I hope that I am, but each of us has to take responsibility for our own walk with Jesus. We cannot shift blame to our parents, siblings, extended family, to friends, circumstances, pastors, or other Christians. We must realize that we as individuals are responsible for our walks. If I want to grow, I must be the one in prayer, in Bible reading, in practicing what Jesus teaches. This is what leads to a life well lived, a life like Samuel’s. Because on the day of Judgment, each of us will stand before the Lord on our own account and no one else’s. 

This however doesn’t let us off the hook of being that good example, but rather should encourage us to grow in the Lord.

So my challenge for you this week is to go before the Lord and ask, what excuses have you given to say how you have not walked better with him? I’ve done it. Not enough time, too many distractions, that’s why I haven’t been better. But those are just excuses. I don’t want excuses anymore, I want faithfulness. This is why in the past year, I have tried to do the things that I have been called to do, and no longer give excuses why I couldn’t. It’s why I am finishing up my masters. It’s why I wrote my novel, the devotional, and am working my Matthew commentary, and another novel. I don’t want excuses, because God has called me to faithfulness. This week, walk before the Lord and ask him to remove the excuses that you may walk in faithfulness.

Let us be a faithful walking people, who understand that the race isn’t over until the trumpet sounds for us. Amen.

1 Samuel Series Wk 7 - “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”

  We just spent a week with the teens in what’s called our In-Town trip. Every year we host our youth group for five full days and two half days of staying here at the church facilities. In the mornings they do work projects, and in the afternoons they put on a Vacation Bible Camp for local kids. The week is pretty well scheduled. Wake up is at 6:15am, breakfast is at 6:30, devotions at 7:30, work project from 8-11, lunch at 11:30, prep for VBC from 12-1, kids arrive between 1-1:30, VBC goes from 1:30-3:30, kids go home and teens have down time until the drivers return, then they begin to prep for the next day from 4-6. 6pm is dinner, 7:30 is devotions, 8-10 is free time and showers, 10pm is lights out. That’s the basic schedule for everyday, with a little variation here and there. 

Yet, even though the week is very structured, we don’t know what each day will bring. We know when things will most likely happen, but we don’t know what will happen. How many kids will be here today? We don’t know. How long will our work project last. We don’t know. We were scheduled for the food bank, but they had enough volunteers. We had a yard project that was done around 10:30am. We had some kids come the first two days who didn’t come back. But most stayed through the whole week. All parents are invited, but not all come. All are invited to come to church, but the majority won’t.

The reality is, we don’t know tomorrow or what we will have to deal with when it comes. We can plan and prepare, but in the end, we have no control on what will happen. 

And its this idea of not knowing tomorrow that brings us back to our series in the books of Samuel, where were will be picking it back up in First Samuel 10:1. And as we open up to First Samuel 10:1, let’s look back to last week.

Last week we began the second section of First Samuel. In the first section we saw How God calls us to abide in his holy will, so that we might follow his direction and see his work. We saw this positively through the lives of Hannah and Samuel, and we saw the negative side of this through the lives Eli, his sons, and the nation of Israel as a whole. 

It was also last week where we began the second section of First Samuel, with seeing Saul before he became king of Israel. Most know Saul as the guy who later became paranoid of David and ended his life as more of a villain than a hero. Yet we saw some both the weaknesses and strengths of Saul when he was younger. Though he would not end well, his start was, at the very least, commendable. It is because he had this commendable start and downfall, that we talked about how we need to go before the Lord to have ourselves examined, so that we may always be growing in our relationship with him.

Now with these things fresh in our minds we can jump into First Samuel 10:1. In order to see the overall thought, we’re going to be covering chapters 10 and 11. But since we are doing this, your default homework is to go back and read the entire chapters in context, as we will only be reading portions of them today.

So let’s jump into First Samuel 10:1.

1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. 2 When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ 3 Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. 5 After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.”

v.10:1-8 - Here is the anointing of Saul as king of Israel by Samuel. Except we are told that Saul is a prince of Israel. This is the second and third time the word prince is used in our passage, the first time was last week in chapter nine. We did not press this understanding then so that we could briefly look at it here. The word prince can be translated as leader or regent. The word carries with it representative power. Saul is not a king unto himself, but a is a representative of the true King of Israel, Yahweh. This is important, because later on, Saul will see himself as the seat of power, rather than as a representative of that power.

But to prove that Saul is truly called by God to be king, Samuel relays a prophetic word of what Saul will encounter as he heads back home. Samuel’s prophecy is that Saul will meet a series of groups: a group of men who will tell him about the donkeys, a group of men who will give him food, and a group of musical prophets. This three-fold repetition is to convince Saul of God’s providence in making him prince over all of Israel. These encounters, and Saul being told of them prior to them happening, will turn him into “another man.” No longer will he be Saul, but King Saul, representative of Yahweh to Israel. 

One thing we have to note, is that the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Saul in the midst of the prophets worshiping God through music. This is the same way the Spirit came upon the Judges. It is a empowerment to do the things God tasks the person to do. But, as we talked about in our Judges series, the Spirit of the Lord does not stop the person from acting in their own will. Though the Spirit is upon them, it does not force people to act in a certain way. The will of the person is still free to act in sinful ways.

v.9-16 - Dropping down to verses 9-16 we get the statement, “… God gave him another heart. (v.9)” This isn’t the heart of salvation that God gives to people when they come to Jesus’ as their Savior. Rather, God giving Saul a new heart, is a comment on Saul changing his mind on the idea of him being chosen as king. This change happens due to Samuel’s prophetic words coming to pass. Yet, when the opportunity to share the news with his uncle that he was anointed to be king, Saul either shows the humble characteristic from the previous chapter, or he shows that he is still unsure about becoming king. We would hope for the humble answer, but we find out a few verses later that it is not from a humble position that he stays silent.

v.17-27 - Moving to verse 17, Samuel brings the people together to make the choosing of the king official. Samuel begins by sharing God’s triumphs over the centuries on behalf of Israel. He does this to remind the people what they are about to reject. This is their last opportunity to turn back to God and keep him as the only King in Israel. Instead, the people reject having God as their King and have chosen to put their nation into the hands of a man. 

Lots are drawn as a way of showing divine intervention, but, as we have already seen, God had already prepared Saul to be the king, so this isn’t random.

It’s here that we see that Saul’s will is still at work and hasn’t been lost by the Spirit coming upon him. It’s here that we see that, though he has been anointed by Samuel, and though he has seen Samuel’s words fulfilled, and though he himself has prophesied, he is reluctant to become king and was hiding among the belongs of the people, rather than with everyone else.

Now it seems that the majority of people were excited for Saul to become king, with some even following after him when he departs. Yet there were those who, like Eli’s sons, and like the people of the Judges era, were worthless. Again, this word means that they would be more willing to follow Satan than anyone else. It is not Saul they are rejecting, but the whole concept that God is still calling the shots to appoint anyone.

This might seem like a throw away line about some men being upset that Saul of all people was made king, but their inclusion becomes more important in chapter eleven. Let’s pick up the passage in chapter 11 verse 1.

11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.

5 Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.

11:1-11 - The Israelites face another threat, this time not from the Philistines, but from the Ammonites. Nahash of the Ammonites beside one of Israel’s cities and when the people of the city request a treaty, Nahash makes a counter offer. His offer is meant to be an affront to the people and shame them. In reality, Nahash does not want to make a treaty and so makes a ridiculous requirement. He is desiring a fight, and his allowing the people in the city to request help from their fellow Israelites shows that desire. And so the word goes out.

It’s here that we find Saul, not in a palace or being waited upon, but working as he always has, in his father’s field. This is a good beginning. If Saul had continued in this humble state, maybe he would have been better off in the long run.

It is on his way back from the field that Saul hears that his fellow Israelites are being besieged. At this report, the Spirit ignites an anger inside Saul and the king calls for all the people to unite and produced a large army to march against Nahash.

After the battle has been won and Nahash has been defeated, we see the aftermath beginning in verse 12.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

v.12-15 - With the victory, Saul proves that God has called him to be the king of Israel, his representative to the people. It is here that the people call on Samuel to pass judgment and punishment on all the worthless men who doubted choosing Saul. Their punishment? Death. However, Saul disagrees and let’s the men live.

This presents an interesting situation, who is to be the judge in such matter? This moment shows a vital transition between the era of the Judges and the era of the monarchy. Saul has taken the role of Judge in both a military and political sense. His decision now out weighs the Prophet’s. Whereas Samuel was the decision maker under the old political structure, his judgment is no longer the final word under the new. Those like Samuel, who fulfill the role of prophet, are now reduced to an advisory position. A position we can see happens time and time again throughout the era of the monarchy.

It is here that we step back and look at the whole situation. We see that God is still in control. Though a new king has been anointed and accepted as ruler over the people. It is God who calls Saul, it is God who reveals what is ahead, it is God who empowers Saul, and it is God who wins the day for Israel. Though human kings make plans, it is God who is working at all times to fulfill his purpose of bringing salvation to all people. 

Another king of Israel, Solomon would write these words in Proverbs 21:1-2, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

We may have our own intentions, and they may seem right, but it is God who will bring his plans to fruition. God is calling us to recognize that he is at work even as kings and rulers carry out what seems right to them.

Our world is in a state war. The Russo-Ukrainian war has been going on since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. It escalated when Russian invaded Ukraine, with a full blown war in the region going on for over three years now. In the last week the cold war between Iran and Israel again blew up with full military action taking place in both countries. We have entered that war by dropping bombs on Iran’s nuclear sites. Rulers are seeing years of planing come to reality as the threat of a third world war looms over everyone. And it all seems right in their eyes.

Yet as believers, we should hold fast to God working out his plans. Jesus told us that he would return and that his return would be proceeded by strife. So whether this is the final strife before his return, or one of the birth pains leading up to it, what we can be secure in is that our King, is greater than a representative of his and greater than any ruler who would usurp his position.

Therefore, let us hold fast to the Lord, recognizing his work to bring all things in line with his purposes. 

My challenge for you this week is to take one headline that troubles you and bring it before the Lord and praise him that he is working out his purposes. After you praise him, seek him to ease any fear that creeps into you mind about the future. For as one of the hymns we sing states, 

“Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand.” 

Let us be a people who trust in the only King that matters, for his purposes will always come to pass. Amen.

1 Samuel Series Wk 6 - “Commendable Starts”

 Almost a year ago today, Jake Odey-Jordan, a British teen, was running in the Under 18 European Championships. He was participating in the 200 meter race and was the favorite to win. When the race began Jake took such a commanding lead that it was as if his opponents weren’t even trying. With 50 meters left, Jake took a second and looked around him and found that no other runner was close. He began slowing as he approached the finish line, preparing to embrace his win. But just as he thought he had the victory, four of the other runners zoomed passed him. Jake took fifth in that race and was eliminated from the competition.

Jake’s story is one where he started off wonderfully, but his overconfidence made him falter at the end. 

It’s this idea of starting off good, that brings us back to our summer series in the books of Samuel, where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel chapter 9, verse 1. And as we open up to First Samuel 9:1, let’s talked boat the first section of the book.

Last week we finished the first section of First Samuel. In that section, we saw how a heartfelt desire aligned with God’s will moves us to see God’s work. We saw how we need to keep our eyes on Jesus so that we can recognize and call out spiritual abusers. We talked about how we need to hear God, surround ourselves with spiritual mentors, be willing to hear the bad news God might have for us, and share the bad news if God directs us. We saw how God is holy and we need to worship in his holiness. And finally we need to develop a moment-by-moment abiding in Jesus. 

If we were to summarize this section, I would put it like this, God calls us to abide in his holy will, that we might follow his direction and see his work. If we take this as a foundational teaching for both the books of Samuel, we will see that how this understanding will be followed and rejected time and time again. 

Now with that understood, we can jump into our passage of First Samuel 9:1.

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And 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 hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 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 till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that 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 house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” 24 So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26 Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

v.1 - For the last five chapters we have had a focus on the tribe of Levite through both Eli’s family and Samuel’s. But now the focus shifts to the tribe of Benjamin. Why does that matter? Well, if we’ve were reading straight through from the book of Joshua to Judges to Samuel, this would be strange. The tribe has a mixed history. In the book of Joshua, the Benjaminites fought alongside the tribe of Judah and were considered warriors. But in that same book, they were one of the tribes that did not run the Canaanites out of the land. Then in the book of Judges, Ehud, one of the first Judges was a Benjaminite, but their tribe is also the one that the rest of tribes massacred because of the vile things they were doing in their cities. 

So for the attention to change to the tribe of Benjamin we can see a healing that has taken placed over the course of the last hundred years. 

v.2 - Once the focus on the tribe of Benjamin has been established, we get the answer to who will be king of Israel, from the last chapter. A man named Saul. Notice however what is described about him. It’s not his spiritual prowess, but his physical. Saul is good looking and he’s tall. Though we might not think that should make a good king, a situation in our own history shows how easily we judge on appearance. 

In a review by Purdue University about the 1960 debates between Kennedy and Nixon, they write, “One of the most discussed issues with the 1960 debates was the notion that people who listened to the radio were more likely to vote for Nixon while people who watched the debates on television were more likely to vote for Kennedy. One of the explanations to this phenomena was presidential candidates physical appearances during the debates with Kennedy appearing better on television than Nixon.”

Physical appearance plays a significant role in who we think makes the better leader, and Saul’s appearance played a major impact as he becomes king. This also leads to a significant theological point that is made later on in First Samuel, but that is seven more chapters away. 

v.3-10 - In verse 2 we’re told about Saul’s outer appearance, but starting in verse 3, we get to see a little about Saul’s inner appearance. Though Saul was obedient to his father to go get the donkeys, he grew weary after he was unable to find them, only three days later. This led him to want to turn back. However, his servant gives him another option, there’s a seer, or prophet, in the area, they could inquire there. Yet Saul gives an excuse to why they can’t see him, only after the servant produces a gift, does Saul agree. Later on, we will see how his tendency to be easily wearied and allow others to make sacrifices he is not willing to do, will get him in trouble. 

v.11-14 - Dropping down to verse 11, Saul and the servant then meet several women who inform the duo that Samuel, the seer, is in the city and he is currently headed up to bless the food. Then the women mention something interesting. The people won’t eat until Samuel has blessed the sacrifice. No matter how long it takes, they wait until Samuel comes and blesses the meal. This is bit of foreshadowing of a moment later in Saul’s life were he wouldn’t wait for Samuel. And because Saul would not wait for the prophet, he would lose his kingdom.

v.15-21 - It is here in verses 15-21, that we get a little insight into the relationship that Samuel has with God. This is the type of conversational, on-going type of prayer life that Paul calls us to in First Thessalonians 5:17, were he writes, “pray without ceasing.”

God speaks to Samuel in an almost conversational way. He speaks of choosing a prince, an interesting word, because the people wanted a king. Yet to God, there is only one King and he’s it. No, the people will receive a leader, a regent as it were, who is a representation of God to humanity. This is very similar to how Moses represented God to the people. 

But notice Samuel in his old age, as he’s been the Prophet and Judge of Israel for many decades. His communication with God is natural, hearing and responding as if he is walking alongside God on a stroll. When meeting Saul, he is not shy about his position of being the seer, letting the two men know right away and not playing coy. And he shows how much he knows when we speaks of the donkeys Saul was looking for, and how the animals have already returned home. Though his sons are not following God, Samuel has a close and intimate relationship with God and it shows through his words and actions. A maturity we should all aspire to.

And in his office of prophet, Samuel alludes to the grand plans God has for Saul. Plans that humble Saul in that moment. Showing that at this point in time, though Saul is young, he is a good candidate for the position of king. 

v.22-27 - It’s here that we come to the final six verses of the chapter. Samuel brings Saul to the table to eat, and we can see Jesus’ Parable of the Wedding Feast in Luke 14:8-11 playing out. Jesus’ parable goes like this, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Samuel elevates Saul to a position of honor, and shows God’s preparation for this moment by revealing that there was a portion of food set aside for this occasion. It is here that we see that Saul is obedient to everything Samuel asked of him.

At the end of this chapter, Samuel and Saul stand as what it looks like to spend a lifetime following God, and what it looks like to begin the journey. Samuel is the runner that’s ahead in the faith, while Saul is just beginning. In Samuel, Saul has a great mentor and example of following God into a deeper and personal relationship. 

Saul has everything going for him: a great mentor, great looks, even a bit of humility. The two things that we see as being a problem is a slight unwillingness to finish a task and a slight to let others do what he should do. 

Saul is a great mirror for all of us. We all have commendable and non-commendable attributes. Gary L. McIntosh and Samuel D. Rima, in their book, Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership, share a quote from Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln writes, “All human beings have their weaknesses, but not all of us realize them, come to grips with them, or offset their negative impact.” The authors would go on to write, “It is God’s desire that we soberly examine ourselves to learn about the things that are motivating us and the fear and anxieties that always accompany leadership.”

Later on David, Saul’s successor, would write about the need of self-examination in his Psalm 51. Jesus would speak of it when he said, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matt 7:2)”

God calls us to this type of self-evaluation, because as we seek him to show us what he sees in us, we put ourselves into a place of transformation. I had a professor one time compare us to unbaked cookies. All we can do is put ourselves into the fire of transformation, which begins with an openness to see God work in us.

We can be surrounded by the greatest mentors and teachers. We can attend the greatest church services, and read the best books, but unless we take seriously our own walk with God, the commendable things that might begin in us, will fall away because they were not developed, and we will wonder, “Why we can’t hear God,” and “Why isn’t he acting in our lives?”

My challenge for you this week is to take a moment every morning to come before the Lord and simply ask for him to reveal something he wants to work on in you, and then ask him for the strength to be willing for him to work. It’s a simple thing to daily seek God fro transformation, it is harder to walk in that transformation process. But that is why we are called disciples by Jesus, because following him brings with it discipline.

So, let us be a people who strive for the work God wants to do in us, that we might be commendable at the begging and end of our race. Amen.