A man named Saul, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, went on a mission to track down his father’s donkeys that had run away. Saul was an impressive man who stood head and shoulders above every man in Israel. He took a servant with him and when they exhausted their provisions, they were afraid that Saul’s father would have worried because they were gone so long. There was a prophet in the town where they were and they just had enough money to give a gift to ask for some advice. The prophet was Samuel and God had told Samuel the day before that the next day at the same time, a man from the tribe of Benjamin would come see him and that Samuel was to anoint the man leader over Israel. When Saul came to Samuel, the LORD said to Samuel, “This is the man I told you about yesterday.”
1 Samuel 9:15-16 ESV 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."
Samuel instructed Saul to stay and have dinner with him at the banquet that he was going to. Samuel took Saul and his servant in to the banquet and sat Saul at the head of the table, in the place of honor above the other thirty guests. He was given the choicest cut of meat reserved for the guest of honor. In all of this Saul had no idea of what was happening. Samuel had only told Saul that his family would become prominent in Israel and Saul replied humbly that his family was lowly and a member of the lowliest tribe in Israel.
1 Samuel 9:20-24 ESV 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.
After dinner, Saul and his servant stayed the night with Samuel. In the morning, Samuel had Saul send his servant ahead because he had a special message from God for Saul. The message from God was to reveal that Saul was to be anointed king over all of Israel.
When Saul went out looking for his father’s donkeys, he had no idea of how his life was going to change. A lowly man from the lowliest tribe in Israel, Saul could never have imagined that he would be chosen by God for this great honor and responsibility. God chose Saul from the least, although he was very handsome and the tallest man in Israel. He was a man who looked the part. His tall, strong and handsome characteristics gave him a commanding presence.
There is more than appearance that counts with God. Israel demanded a king and God gave them what they wanted and chose a man who looked the part. God knew Saul’s weaknesses and in my opinion, this first king was not supposed to be a success. He was destined for a fall, just as Adam was destined or a fall. That doesn’t mean that God caused Adam or Saul to sin. They each had the freedom to choose. Even though these men lived thousands of years apart, they were both in a position of being the first; Adam was the first man and Saul was the first king over Israel. They were destined for a fall because God cherishes His role as Redeemer! Mankind was destined to fall before God created the first human being. God’s role as redeemer was established before the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 KJV And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Through our sinful nature, no flesh can glory. All have sinned and need the Savior and no one can stand on their own understanding.
Romans 3:23 KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Proverbs 3:5 KJV Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
God allows us to sit in His position as parents over our children. Every parent desires the love and respect of their children. As a parent of an adult child, that love and respect becomes more precious as it is freely given in adulthood. When my twenty two year old daughter calls and says, “Hi Daddy,” my heart soars. Her love is so freely given. It is all about free choice. God did not want robots. The good, “bad examples,” of many of the stories of the Bible were written for us today. God shares with us all that He experiences.
There is no mystery of God’s triune nature. He is not three people or persons. He is one and He made us in His image as one; but we humans are triune in our nature as well. As God is a Father, a Son and a Friend/Brother as Holy Ghost; we were created to be parents, children and friends/siblings. I am son to my dad, father to my daughter and friend to all. The human experience is complete when we fulfill and live in all three roles. It is our choice. Some merely remain a son or daughter and live hermit lives. Even those, who befriend many; may never have children, it is our choice to be a friend and to be a parent; but all are born a child, either a son or a daughter.
This side point to this story has been given to prepare our minds to look at the next chapters of the story of two kings; Saul the first king of Israel, who failed and David, the king who set the bench mark as a man after God’s own heart. What each man did upon anointing through their death gives us an example to follow; because we have been called to be kings in the Kingdom of God. We are to reign with Jesus Christ, if we overcome and become holy! The potential is our endowment. As writer Zig Ziglar says; “Man was designed for accomplishment; engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness.” Jesus Christ revealed the level of the greatness that we can achieve.
Revelation 3:21 KJV To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Before we continue into the story of the kings of Israel, realize that you are being called to be a king with Christ who is the King of kings! He can’t be the Kings of kings unless there are kings for Him to reign over! Prayerfully prepare your heart. Ask God to speak to you through His WORD!
Prayer: My Father and my LORD, you have shown how Israel failed as a people because of their lust for the world’s gods, now as the story unfolds about the kings of Israel, speak to my heart, show me my incredible human potential that you have laid as a foundation for my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
No comments:
Post a Comment