Saul anointed and presented to the people |
|
Saul anointed and presented to the people |
|
|
|
| 1
¶ Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and
kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to
be captain over his inheritance?
.2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? |
1 -
Oil
... poured Olive oil indicated prosperity de3213,
de3324.
Anointing symbolized honor lu0746,
jn1102.
1 - Anointed Samuel anointed Saul 1sa0927. Tabernacle articles were consecrated by anointing ex3026 and for priests ex2907, ex3030, le0810. 1 - Lord hath anointed This symbolized the gift of the Holy Spirit or for a holy office ex3026-29, ex30:30, le0810-12. The anointing was a symbol as is baptism. It does not convey any sanctity or special feeling. 2 - Thou shalt find the revelation would strengthen Saul's confidence in his mission. This is not, however, how God normally helps us understand what we should do ex3021, je3303. |
| 3 Then shalt thou go
on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and
there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying
three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying
a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. .5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: |
3 -
Plain
of Tabor Instead, "Oak of Tabor." Old trees were good landmarks.
The false gods of Jacob's family were buried under "this oak which was
by Schechem" ge3504.
5 - The hill of God Or "the Gibeah of God." The "company" was coming down from a high place for the worship of God. Compare v26. 5 - A company of prophets The term "they shall prophecy" is literally "they shall be acting the prophets." By music and praise they were no doubt strengthening what they were learning in the school of the prophets which Samuel had established. For pipe see on je4836. |
Rachel's tomb ge4807. |
|
| 6 And the Spirit of
the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt
be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. 8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. |
6 -
Thou
shalt prophesy The word "prophesy" is from the verb
naba',
"to act as a spokesman for God." Saul joined them in singing.
6 - Turned God quickly changes people who accept Him. Moses, Peter and others are examples. That gift of new life must be practiced and guarded. Gideon, for example, showed great courage for following God but later led his people into profane idolatry jg0601, jg0610, jg0625, jg0824. Saul's story of apostasy is a sad one. 7 - Do as occasion ... Saul didn't need to see signs. The circumstances were evidence of the way of the Lord. 8 - Go down before me Samuel did not tell Saul the reasons for being sent to Gilgal. Knowing in this case would have confused him 1sa1115, 1sa1304, 08. |
| .9
¶ And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel,
God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? .12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. |
9 -
Another
heart Literally, "God transformed for him another heart." God
converted him. The Lord is willing to give us a new heart, but if we don't
like His way of peace, we will lose the new heart. See ez1119.
11 - Is Saul also among? The surprise may have implied that his past behavior was not so good. |
| 14 And Saul's uncle
said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek
the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not. |
16 - Told him not See ec0307. |
| .17
¶ And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: .19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. |
17
- Mizpeh North of Jerusalem. See map.
18 - Delivered ... Egyptians During the time of the judges, Egypt kept the surrounding nations subdued and were not concerned about the peaceful Hebrews. When Israel became an official kingdom, however, things would be different. God has many ways to protect those who trust Him. 19 - Rejected your God How foolish and what a mass of lost humanity the period of the kings would see! |
| 20 And when Samuel had
caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was
taken.
21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. |
20
- Benjamin ... taken Not God's plan.
22 - Hid himself ... stuff Or "... things." He would soon cast off humility. |
| .24
And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen,
that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted,
and said, God save the king.
.25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. .26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. |
24
- Chosen Why would God choose someone
He knew would be unfaithful? The people had indicated just what they wanted
and it was just what God gave them. They needed to learn by experience
and the lessons are for us, too. If God were to promote only those He knew
would glorify Him, Satan would accuse Him of being unfair jb0109.
As we choose Him without pressure, our choice is from love and we will
be forever free.
26 - Gibeah See map, north of Jerusalem. 27 - Belial That is "worthlessness." |
|
|
|
|
|
|