How God favors the least expected: Saul
Before, Saul’s call to the throne and his downfall after he disobeyed God, Saul came from a relatively simple family. They had no ties to the royal bloodline of Abraham. Saul’s call to destiny starts with Samuel. The Israelite’s were desperately looking for a king. Samuel's sons simply didn’t make the cut because they disobeyed God and where a public nuisance and Samuel was just too old to rule over Israel. God was not happy about this decision, he told Samuel to go an tell the Israelite’s that they have forsaken him and he also told Samuel to tell the Israelite’s that a king could actually mean more harm than good for them. Samuel complied, In 1 Samuel 8: 10–18:
10. Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11. He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.18. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
The Israelite's weren’t having it. They still wanted a king. Samuel took their appeal back to God and God agreed. The hunt for a future king began.
Saul was a Benjamite. He was handsome, tall, and according to the bible he was found everywhere. This should indicate that he was a pretty social and outgoing guy.
Saul’s father Kish, lost his donkeys. He sent Saul to go look for them with one of his servants. Saul looked everywhere, from the hill country of Ephraim to the territory of Benjamin. He was basically on a wild goose chase but this time its donkeys.
It got pretty late and Saul suggested to his servants that they should return home because his father must be worried by now. It says in 1 Samuel 9:5
5. When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
His servant remembered that there was a man of God(Samuel) that everyone respected and not so coincidentally Samuel was in town. Samuel was a bit hesitant because they didn’t have anything to give to the man of God, not money, not even food. During this time, it was not unusual to offer a man of God food or even money. It was a sign of respect especially because prophets back then were nomads and frequently traveled. Wouldn’t it be nice, to be offered a hot bowl of soup after a long day of travel? But, Saul’s servant suddenly remembered that he had a shekel of silver with him. This made Saul happy. They proceeded on to meet the prophet.
As they were heading to meet Samuel they met some young women, Saul and his servant weren’t very sure if Samuel was around so they asked the women. They told him that Samuel was indeed around but they should hurry up because he is just in town for today. Remember, it was already evening!
Not so coincidentally, when they were on their way to meet Samuel, they saw him on the path they were taking. Samuel caught a glimpse of the two boys. The day before this encounter God revealed to Samuel that he will meet a man from the land of Benjamin. In Exodus 9:15:
15. Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16. “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”
As Samuel glimpsed at the men, God spoke in his ear saying, “this is the man I spoke about he will govern my people.”
The men didn’t know what Samuel looked like, because they have never seen him before. Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked him where the seer(Samuel) was. Saul revealed to the Saul that he is the seer he is looking for and to Saul’s amazement Samuel knew the conditions his father's donkeys were in and promised that the donkeys have been found and are safe. That’s when Samuel dropped the bombshell on Saul in verse 20 of 1 Samuel.
20. As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”
Samuel basically just told him that he will be the next king of Israel. Saul was flabbergasted. Samuel then went on to dine with Saul at the hall on the hill(high place). After dinner was over, the men went outside, Saul told Samuel to tell his servant to go ahead of them in the journey back to the town because Samuel had a very important message to deliver. 1 Samuel 9 vs 27 says:
27. As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us” — and the servant did so — “but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.”
Something happened that would change Saul’s life forever.
1 Samuel 10 vs 1
Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?
There and then. Saul’s life change forever. Samuel then proceeded to instruct Saul on very important tasks he must do before God’s will be fulfilled in his life. 1 Samuel 10: 2–8
2. When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?” ’
3. “Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine.
4.They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.
5. “After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.
6. The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.
7. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
8. “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”
After his encounter with Samuel Saul’s life changed forever. The town was shocked. They couldn’t believe this was the new Saul. When Saul got home, he uncle inquired about where he had been? Saul replied that he had been looking for donkey’s and when they didn’t find it they went to Samuel.
Saul’s uncle demanded that Saul tell him what Samuel said. Saul told him everything about the donkey’s but left out the part about kingship.
Later that day, in 1 Samuel 10:17–23
17. Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah 18. and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ 19. But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”
20. When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21.Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22. So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”
And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”
23. They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”
Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
A lot was cast and Samuel’s name was chosen. What are the odds? God uses the least expected. God favors the least expected and God can bless you when you least expect it. If life isn’t going so well right now, be rest assured that truckloads of your blessings are on their way. Just as Saul, God will put people around you that favor you and God will bless the works of your hand.
