Day 25- Looks Aren't Everything
So today I walked through Saul being
chosen, anointed, and proclaimed king of Israel, and
I even followed along on his first battle as king.
Knowing where this story will eventually go (because
I’ve read later chapters before), it’s
really fascinating to watch how God is setting the
pieces into motion.
In chapter 9, God tells Samuel who will
be the king that the people asked for. It happens
to be Saul who is this “choice and handsome”
man who is son of a “mighty man of power.”
Saul apparently wasn’t just a nice looking guy,
but the Bible says “There was not a more handsome
person than he among the children of Israel.”
It also says from the shoulders up he was taller than
everyone. Tall, dark, and handsome… sounds like
movie star quality. Or in this case, king star quality.
Samuel anoints Saul in chapter 10 and
proclaims him to be king in front of all the people.
At this point, Saul had been anointed, the Spirit
of God had come upon him and he had prophesied among
the prophets. But still when Samuel proclaimed him
in front of all the people of Israel, Saul was found
hiding among the equipment.
Chapter 11 is Saul’s first real
action as king. He gets word that some of his people
in Jabesh are in trouble. The first thing that happens
after Saul hears the news is the Spirit of God came
upon him. That is the key factor that drove him into
action. As Saul sends a tough message out to the people
of Israel to join in the battle, I noticed that the
fear of the Lord fell upon them first and then they
came out with one consent. When they win the battle,
Saul gives the Lord credit for “accomplishing
salvation in Israel.” At this point the people
are rejoicing and they made Saul king.
At Saul’s big coronation party
in chapter 12, Samuel addresses the people again.
Now, I would imagine at a big party celebrating the
new king that has just won a huge battle saving their
people, it would be all awesome talk, congratulations,
slaps on the back and maybe some high 5’s. But
Samuel’s speech is pretty much a scolding and
a warning. He starts off by confirming his own good
character and integrity among the people so that his
speech here would be credible. He then goes on to
list numerous occasions where the Lord has delivered,
saved and cared for Israel. Regardless of this, Samuel
points out that in the face of the most recent threat
the people asked for a king to reign over them and
fight their battles, “when the Lord your God
was your king.’ Even so, here is the king they
have chosen and God has set the king over them. Samuel
goes on to warn them that if they continue to serve
and obey God, the people and their king will continue
following God. But if they do not obey God and His
commandments, the hand of the Lord will be against
them. Then both the people and their king will be
swept away.
You know I’m thinking about Saul’s
situation here, and he looks the part, but beyond
that I’m wondering what’s inside. When
Samuel first hints to Saul about being chosen, Saul
nervously tries to blow it off, like come on, who
am I? But after being chosen, anointed, his heart
changed by the Spirit, and prophesying with prophets,
when the moment comes for Samuel to proclaim Saul,
Saul has disappeared. The people have to go find him
and he’s hiding among the equipment. I know
a lot of people chosen by God in the Bible hesitate,
even doubt at first, but God always tells those people
to trust Him because He will do the work. Saul seems
like he’s going through that same path, but
God isn’t telling Saul those same words. Well,
Saul’s not exactly crying out to God for help
though either. He’s just kind of going through
motions right now and riding the wave of excitement.
God works through Saul to save the people in that
first battle so the people will trust Saul and make
him king like they wanted and God granted. But when
it comes to Samuel’s speech in chapter 12, I
think that ties it together. God was the king, there
was no need for an earthly king, but the people rejected
God and asked for this earthly king anyway. God chose
Saul because of the cries of the people.
Lord,
Thank You for showing me my own character through
Israel. I see how much You have done for them, and
yet it’s like they just forgot and moved on
to their own agenda. I see that in my own life, too,
sometimes. You showed it to me earlier today. You’ve
shown me throughout Your Word that I need to take
that step and trust You with the outcome, not take
it into my own hands. You’ve shown me in my
life that when I do take that step, You are always
there to catch me. Lord, I don’t always like
being put in situations where I have to take that
scary step, but I’m learning to embrace them
because those moments draw me closer to You. Thank
You for those moments Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
