Sermon Tone Analysis

Samuel and Saul: God is Sovereign Over Big and Small - 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16

PRAY: Heavenly Father, according to your abundant grace to us through our Lord Jesus Christ, grant us wisdom today to hear with understanding and to obey your revealed truth in your word.

Amen.

INTRO: In our passage for study today, in the episode in the lives of Samuel and Saul in which God reveals his choice for Israel's first king, pay close attention that the Bible portrays again the faithful care of a Sovereign God over both the major and minor details of our lives.

Don’t tell me you haven’t wondered if the seemingly mundane details of your daily life are truly important to God. - In my life, do I approach the way I use my free time with the overarching reality that God cares about my heart and my time?

In your life, does God care about whether or not you have an epidural in the delivery of your child?

(I don’t propose an answer, but I love it that I heard one of us praying about that decision.

That means she cares deeply about her heart being submissive to God’s leading in a practical decision.)

In our lives as a church family, does God care about something so seemingly insignificant as our parking lot?

Well sure he cares.

He cares because he cares about us as his children and about our hearts for him.

In these few chapters God will confirm his choice (of a human king) to Samuel, to Saul himself, and to the people.

(Our text today is about) The ultimately sovereign God choosing who will be the next sovereign man over Israel.

- God selects Saul & anoints Saul…

But first, nobody even knows who Saul is… (besides God)

God orchestrates a meeting.

(9:1-14)

Take Note that Saul is Handsome and Tall

While this is often a primary emphasis for man, it is most certainly not foremost to God:

And speaking of outward appearances, what was specifically foretold that would take place regarding the true Messiah to come?

Although a head above most in stature and and bearing the face of a model, Saul, soon to be Israel’s first king, didn’t come from a family or tribe of particular influence.

So the text intentionally notes that he at least physically looked the part of someone the people might be able to “look up to.” (pun intended)

And now see too what magnificent manner God used to orchestrate a meeting between this nobody and the man of God, Samuel, who would be doing God’s bidding to select the next king the people were demanding.

The Donkey Search Is Afoot

Now missing donkeys matters because such possessions are probably of no small value.

[In the grand scheme missing donkeys seems minor, but the Bible never suggests that such earthly concerns are automatically minor to us!

We care if our livelihood or our health is at stake.

But as God’s people we aim to keep it in perspective.]

So Kish puts his son in charge of overseeing the task.

(This whole donkey thing isn’t that minor to Saul’s family, but it quickly becomes rather minor by comparison.)

And Saul searches diligently across kingdom come.

(another intended pun) - I honestly don’t know what to make of the fact that Saul searches so far away for the lost donkeys.

Perhaps they considered that someone had found them and taken them.

I don’t know… the fact that he goes to such great lengths is both commendable and a little funny.

But of course as readers we are deliberately meant to see the bigger picture.

Saul thought he was just diligently looking for his father’s donkeys; God was using this simple task to bring him face to face with Samuel.

Saul was in fact ready to give up (before his dad became more concerned for them than the donkeys…), and the servant says, wait, before we give up…

Let’s Ask the Seer

Our text explains that Seer was the term commonly used before “Prophet” became the prominent designation for the “man of God.” (the three are the same)

(Saul isn’t opposed to the idea, but doesn’t want to go to him empty-handed) - It was customary during this time to bring a gift when seeking help from the seer (and in many social interactions in their culture at the time).

The irony here is palpable: Saul is gonna ask the Seer to help him find his lost donkeys; instead, he’ll be given sovereign rule over all of Israel.

Now They Search for Samuel

It seems likely from the textual cues that they must now be somewhere in the vicinity of Ramah.

Perhaps Samuel is returning from one of his circuits of judging.

So now we come to the next section where…

God reveals his choice.

(9:15-25)

(Meanwhile, Samuel acts in humble service to God.)

Flashback to Yesterday

Notice two things: Samuel is continuing to go about his responsibilities while he waits on God to tell him what’s next.

Secondly, when God gives instruction, Samuel humbly obeys without any complaints or concerns for himself and his authority.

- Therefore, according to our Savior’s instruction about what makes a leader, who’s the real leader here?

It’s still Samuel, honestly.

The guy who listens to and serves God.

Who does what God gives him to do and sees his leadership as service to others for God’s glory?

That guy is a true leader among God’s people.

Isn’t it also amazing that with the close relationship and prophetic gifting that God has given to Samuel, it doesn’t even feel surprising to us at all that God just directly points out the guy he’s choosing:

God to Samuel: “Here is the man”

For those of us who know the ultimate outcome in the life of Saul, it’s too easy to simply write off Saul at this point, knowing that David will be a better king.

But God had legitimately chosen this man to deliver Israel from the surrounding enemies and to do the work of “restraining” his people—to act as the authority and judge over them.

This should make us pause and think: God didn’t choose Saul simply to fail.

God chooses Saul and gives him every opportunity to be the man God desires to be king over his people.

Saul has every chance to be the human sovereign who leads the people by bowing his own heart to the true Sovereign.

- And we’ll see that Saul actually begins this way.

(more on that later in our study)

Even in his initial interaction with Samuel here we have high hopes for Saul based on the way he responds to being honored.

Humbled by Honor

Samuel tell Saul: Rest your mind about your donkeys.

They’re found.

Ps.

God has great things in store for you.

Saul’s humble reply can be distilled to this essence: Why do you honor me thus?

(I’m not anybody.

I come from nobody and haven’t done anything deserving of such honor.)

By the way, notice that in response to God’s preparing Samuel that he would meet God’s choice for king, Samuel had gone to great lengths to prepare a portion and seat of honor for this one.

Humble humble humble… and obedient obedient obedient… I love Samuel!

But what a day for Saul—from donkey searching to being the guest of honor at the head of the feast.

Now the next thing will be for God to confirm his choice, which he will do in two ways:

God confirms his choice in private anointing.

(9:26-10:1)

Set Apart for God’s Purpose

The purpose of anointing was the symbolism of things that were set apart to God’s use.

- When David later refuses to harm Saul, who is seeking his life, he states that it’s because Saul is “the Lord’s anointed.”

(see it in 1 Sam 24&26)

I can just picture Saul at this point, when Saul anoints him, going, “Say What?”… but Samuel doesn’t even give Saul time to react, he just keeps on with his explanation of how God will confirm the truth of this purpose.

What else would be a sign to verify for Saul the truth that God had chosen him?

...

God confirms his choice in power.

(10:2-16)

Detailed Fulfillment

First: Specific location, two women, even what they will say.

Next: Location, three men, what they will have in their possession, and what they will do.

(Also what you should do in response.)

Finally: You’ll meet prophets and prophesy.

(Saul surely must be thinking… ok now this is getting weird.

I’ve never prophesied before.

Never seen any sign of such gifting, and certainly have had no training about how to behave appropriately when doing so, and so on.)

“Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you.” (10:7) This should be clear confirmation to you that God has chosen you and is with you.

Here’s the point I really want to emphasize to you in this section:

The Spirit’s Power Confirming God’s Presence

When Saul actually does prophesy, those who know him react with: Where did this come from?

- It makes perfect sense.

This is clear indication of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon Saul to empower him for God’s purpose.

Even so, when Saul later fails to continue down the path of doing things God’s way, in humble and trusting submission, the Spirit of the Lord “departed from Saul” (1 Sam.

16:14; 18:12).

Two things here for New Testament believers: