Saul’s Anointing & Coronation as King
January 25, 2025
Commentary
The anointing of a king symbolizes the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in his life (v. 1). When Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head, this act represented God’s approval of Saul as a leader of His people. Anointing also reminded the king of his great responsibility to lead his people by God’s wisdom and not by his own. Saul’s main responsibility would be to save God’s people from their enemies (v. 1). Samuel then made three prophecies about Saul’s journey home: (1) Saul would meet 2 men, near Rachel’s tomb, who would attest to the fact that the donkey’s Saul had been sent to find had been found and returned to Saul’s father. Now Kish just wants his son to return home safely (v. 2). (2) Saul would meet 3 men, near the oak of Tabor, who would supply him with bread for his journey (vv. 3-4). (3) Saul would meet a group of prophets in Gibeath-elohim (a Philistine garrison city) and Saul would be filled with the Spirit of God and would himself prophecy with them (vv. 5-6). When these signs took place, Saul was to act in the knowledge that the Lord was with him, directing his steps (v. 7). Finally, Saul was to meet back up with Samuel in Gilgal. Samuel would arrive a full week after Saul would (v. 8). Amazingly, all three signs occurred, just as Samuel had predicted (vv. 9-13). For one day Saul was among the prophets. Sadly it was not to last. When asked about his experience with Samuel, Saul left out the part about him being anointed as king (vv. 14-16).
Samuel gathered the people together to the LORD at Mizpah (v. 17). His speech to the people had three sections: (1) the people chose to have a king (vv. 18-19). The Lord had saved them from all their enemies up to this point, but they had insisted on having a human king to lead them. (2) the LORD chose Saul to be that king (vv. 20-24). Samuel made the selection by casting lots: first the tribe of Benjamin, then the clan of Matrites, and finally Saul the son of Kish. But Saul was missing! With a little help from the Lord, they found Saul hiding among the baggage. Apparently, Saul suffered from stage fright. Once they got him on stage, however, it became apparent to everyone that Saul was the guy to lead them. Saul looked the part of a king, and the people shouted their support. (3) Finally, Samuel explained in detail the rights and the duties of a king, writing it all down in a book (v. 25). After that, most of the people went home, the men of valor went with Saul to Gibeah, and some people openly expressed their doubt in Saul’s ability to lead them (vv. 25-27).
Application
It is easy for me to hide from important responsibilities because I am afraid of what others will think or because I am unsure of what the future holds. I need to prepare now to step up to the plate of any future responsibilities the Lord may put in my path. I need to count on God’s provision rather than my feeling of inadequacy.
1 Samuel 10:1– 27 (NET)
1 Then Samuel took a small container of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head. Samuel kissed him and said, “The Lord has chosen you to lead his people Israel! You will rule over the Lord’s people and you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the Lord has chosen you as leader over his inheritance. 2 When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin’s border. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! He is asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
3 “As you continue on from there, you will come to the tall tree of Tabor. At that point three men who are going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, one of them will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and one of them will be carrying a container of wine. 4 They will ask you how you’re doing and will give you two loaves of bread. You will accept them. 5 Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
7 “When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you. 8 You will go down to Gilgal before me. I am going to join you there to offer burnt offerings and to make peace offerings. You should wait for seven days until I arrive and tell you what to do.”
9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his inmost person. All these signs happened on that very day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them. 11 When everyone who had known him previously saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people asked one another, “What on earth has happened to the son of Kish? Does even Saul belong with the prophets?”
12 A man who was from there replied, “And who is their father?” Therefore this became a proverb: “Is even Saul among the prophets?” 13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.
14 Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” Saul replied, “To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel.” 15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 Saul said to his uncle, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.
17 Then Samuel called the people together before the Lord at Mizpah. 18 He said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord God of Israel has said, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 19 But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, “No! Appoint a king over us.” Now take your positions before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.’”
20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Has the man arrived here yet?” The Lord said, “He has hidden himself among the equipment.”
23 So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. 24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people.” All the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. 26 Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some wicked men said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it.