Road To Commission (1 Samuel 10:1-16)

In 1968, a young man moved with his family from Michigan to the Bay Area. Starting his senior year of high school and felt totally out of place. The first time he saw the San Francisco fog he was terrified. He was convinced it was poison gas rolling down the hills.^[1]

Things didn’t go very well his first few weeks at school. He showed up in a blazer and tie, carrying a briefcase. That had been the dress code at the all boys private school he attended.

He later described the changes he encountered as “total cultural shock.” His peers didn’t think much of him. At the end of the year he was voted as most funny but least likely to succeed.^[2]

His first year of college, without much forethought and “almost impulsively,” he selected a theater elective to round out his course list. That’s when things changed for the man voted least likely to succeed. Forty years later he had won two Emmys, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild awards, and an Oscar.^[3] The fellow’s name was Robin Williams. By 1986, Newsweek magazine crowned him “comedy’s lunatic king.”^[4]

In 1 Samuel 10 things change for Saul. He is anointed as the first king of Israel. But it’s not only his job that changes. He changes. In chapter 9 he was hesitant, passive, and reserved. This morning, we see him join a troupe of musician prophets, prophesying before the Lord. He’s so different it shocks the people in his hometown.

But from Saul we learn that God can use unlikely people, and when He uses us, He transforms us, changing us from the inside out not for our own greatness, but for His glory, for His purposes. And as God transforms us, He draws us into spiritual activity and spiritual service.

1 Samuel 10:1 – ¹ Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t the LORD anointed you ruler over his inheritance?

Israel said, “We must have a king over us, like all the other nations.” It was a mistake. It was a terrible act of rebellion and betrayal. Yet God still showed them kindness and grace and patience. Why? Because they still belong to Him. They are His inheritance. They belong to Him permanently.^[5]

So do you! In God’s eyes, you are a pearl of great price. And though we, at times, fail to remember why we were created and Who we truly belong to, He does not forsake us or abandon us.

He would give them a king, but God was still going to superintend and direct. Still watch over them, still reach out to them and still call them to a holy and set apart life.

Anointing with oil like this was previously reserved for priests or the objects in the Tabernacle.^[6] Saul being anointed meant God was staking a divine claim over his life and his kingship.^[7]

This oil represented not only God’s claim on Saul, but also that Saul would be empowered by God.^[8] So, from the start it is clear, Saul will be king, but a vassal under the generous King of kings.

1 Samuel 10:2 – ² Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and now your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son?’

God would give three confirming signs to Saul that day. Each successive sign grows in size and detail. And each step draws Saul into greater spiritual activity.

This first sign encourages Saul to trust God. It was time to stop looking for the donkeys and start the trip home. To believe that God is not only real, but that He is trustworthy. Sometimes our struggle is not in believing God, but in trusting Him. But remember: Jesus said not a single sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight and you are worth more than many sparrows.

1 Samuel 10:3-4 – ³ “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine. ⁴ They will ask how you are and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.

The goats, wine, and bread are for sacrifice.^[9] But God would share it with Saul. This is the second time he’s gotten a priestly portion in 24 hours.^[10] God was bringing him into the spiritual activity.

Whatever God calls us to do always has a spiritual aspect. Whether you’re called into formal ministry, or if you’re called to something outside formal church activity, every calling has a spiritual component. Whether it’s a missions trip or the Monday staff meeting, as called Christians, in-dwelt by God the Holy Spirit, anywhere and everywhere we go, we go as priests and living sacrifices.^[11]

And what a sweet encouragement we get in these verses about our calling. As God calls us to do spiritual work, He promises to care for us, watch out for us, and provide for us.

The Lord knew Saul had a long journey on foot and would be hungry. So God orchestrated events to provide for His servant. Here are two loaves of bread. What was set aside to be offered to God, God set aside for Saul’s needs. That is a tender act of thoughtfulness and generosity.

God cares about your life, your heart, your mind, your needs, your future. He can be trusted to be a Provider. Meanwhile we should train ourselves to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

1 Samuel 10:5-6 – ⁵ “After that you will come to Gibeah of God where there are Philistine garrisons. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place prophesying. They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. ⁶ The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully on you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed.

Gibeah was Saul’s hometown.^[12] Whatever God asks you to do for Him, He calls you to live out your faith at home. Saul’s friends and acquaintances don’t seem to respond well to what happens here, but that’s not what matters. What matters is living out our faith in every aspect of our lives.

Jesus once saved a man from demon possession. The man said, “Ok, now I want to go with You and be a part of what you’re doing.” Jesus said, “Here’s where your discipleship starts: Go home to your own people and tell them about God’s mercy and how much the Lord has done for you.”^[13]

The first act in Saul’s new life was not imperial, it was spiritual. Even though there were other things going on. Even though there’d have to be a coronation. Even though he’d have to organize a government. And even though he was in the shadow of enemies right in his own backyard.

In Gibeah there were Philistine palaces and fortresses.^[14] They must be dealt with. But first the spiritual. First, Saul needed to become a new man. That’s what transformed means in verse 6. That he would become another man.^[15] Not a fake persona, but made new from the inside out.

This is still the work God does in our lives. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”^[16] A new mind. A new heart. A new way of seeing the world. A new way of speaking. A new set of goals and desires. A new attitude.

Robin Williams once spoke about joining that theater class. He said, “Everything opened up. The whole world just changed in that one year.”^[17] His life trajectory and experience changed.

The Christian life is not just a way to get out of sin or get out of hell. It does do that for us, but it is a totally new path, a new trajectory, following the directives given to us by God. Our part is to follow and worship and allow Him to change us from the inside out.

That was the more needful thing in this moment. “Well, Lord, what about this Philistine garrison?” God will deal with that. For Saul, that day the goal wasn’t warfare, it was worship.

1 Samuel 10:7-8 – ⁷ When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require, because God is with you. ⁸ Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

God gave Saul opportunities to walk with the Lord, worship the Lord, and wait on the Lord. Saul must be patient and allow God to do His providential work according to His divine timetable.

And we note that while Saul was being totally transformed and filled with God the Holy Spirit, yet that did not mean he should behave irrationally. He was to walk by faith and with wisdom.

Something else is happens here: God establishes the relationship between prophet and king in Israel.^[18] They wanted to be like all the other nations, but God said, “I’m going to speak to the prophets, the prophets are going to communicate to the king, and hopefully, the king will obey.”

Israel’s throne would only have the authority granted to it by God. The human king would always be secondary to the King of Heaven. Throughout the monarchy period, the prophet played a significant and sometimes, sadly, an adversarial role toward kings as they disobeyed God.

But here is the reminder: We are citizens of a Kingdom. Our King deserves worship and submission. And we are not submitted under human prophets, but under God’s revealed Word.

1 Samuel 10:9-13 – ⁹ When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came about that day. ¹⁰ When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them. ¹¹ Everyone who knew him previously and saw him prophesy with the prophets asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets ¹² Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?” As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying. ¹³ Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place.

Everyone who knew Saul did not expect this of him. Their comments may suggest they thought he was the least likely person to be part of such a spiritual group.^[19] But that can be an encouragement to us: It doesn’t matter what has happened in your past. God can do a wonderful work in your life. He can fill you with power and truth and give you opportunities to glorify Him.

Not everyone will be on board. Even Jesus was disrespected in His hometown. He said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”^[20] Maybe you know people who mock what God is doing in your life. People who like to bring up who you used to be. Be strong in the Lord. Be bold. Don’t live for their approval but for God’s.

1 Samuel 10:14-16 – ¹⁴ Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?”

“To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.” ¹⁵ “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?” ¹⁶ Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.

At first Robin Williams kept his acting life secret. His father had forbidden any theater people from coming over, and so Robin would sneak them into the house through the back window.

Why wouldn’t Saul just tell his uncle? Is he afraid? Everything thus far in the chapter gives us the impression that Saul is a new man, full of the power of God. So, why the secrecy?

First of all, the people needed to know God was selecting Saul, which He would by lot. It wouldn’t be good if someone said, “Well, he just made up a story to nominate himself.”

Second, with Philistine garrisons right there in Gibeah, it was probably prudent to not make a big thing about of Israel now having a military king to fight against their enemies.

Meanwhile, the transformed Saul did not demand prestige or prominence or acclaim. He was anointed and empowered, but he was not full of pride. He didn’t demand applause. No servant of our Lord should. Beware any that do. Saul becomes a king like that, a lunatic king, and it’s terrible.

You and I are called to walk with God, worship God, wait on God, as He draws us into a spiritual life of service and transformation. People around may think we’re the least likely to be part of such a thing. We may think it ourselves, but it is God’s desire to use you for spiritual work. In the book of Acts, the Sanhedrin looked at Peter and John and said, “Well these guys are totally untrained and uneducated.” They were the least likely to know eternal truths and experience supernatural power. And yet, that was exactly what happened. Why? Because God loves to use the weak and the foolish to confound the so-called wise of this world. And the Lord invites us to be a part of it.

He’s calling you to some purpose, some role. Maybe it has a public component, maybe it’s a totally private work, but He is calling you. Do you know what His call for you is? And if so, are you walking in it? God is drawing you into a deeper spiritual life day after day. Follow Him into it as you walk with Him, worship Him, wait on Him.