“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV, to be continued)
Felsenkirche (church in a rock)
Oberstein, Germany
Oberstein, Germany
I Samuel 9 (review 1-14, read 15-27)
Donkey Search
~Some important info about Saul:
~In the beginning of the chapter we are told he is handsome. “There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he.”
~We are also told that Saul was taller than all his fellow countrymen. “From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.”
~These 2 facts come into play later when Yahweh chooses the 2nd king of Israel; David.
~The reason Saul runs into Samuel is that Saul’s father’s donkeys are lost and Saul goes to search for them.
~The very fact that Saul was out searching for donkeys is something that should not be lost on people either- when a ruler rides a donkey it stands for peace and Saul is searching for donkeys. It is also not a coincidence that Saul never actually finds the donkeys…
~Where we start reading we get a picture from Samuel that Yahweh is going to bring Saul to him. The very next day Saul is in the city gate and asks Samuel who the seer was.
~This entire exchange where Samuel is told about Saul’s coming is to remind us, the reader, that Yahweh is maintaining complete control over the situation. Although the people’s motives are poor for wanting a king we are still reminded who is in overall control.
~Some important info about Saul:
~In the beginning of the chapter we are told he is handsome. “There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he.”
~We are also told that Saul was taller than all his fellow countrymen. “From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.”
~These 2 facts come into play later when Yahweh chooses the 2nd king of Israel; David.
~The reason Saul runs into Samuel is that Saul’s father’s donkeys are lost and Saul goes to search for them.
~The very fact that Saul was out searching for donkeys is something that should not be lost on people either- when a ruler rides a donkey it stands for peace and Saul is searching for donkeys. It is also not a coincidence that Saul never actually finds the donkeys…
~Where we start reading we get a picture from Samuel that Yahweh is going to bring Saul to him. The very next day Saul is in the city gate and asks Samuel who the seer was.
~This entire exchange where Samuel is told about Saul’s coming is to remind us, the reader, that Yahweh is maintaining complete control over the situation. Although the people’s motives are poor for wanting a king we are still reminded who is in overall control.
Donkey Search Continued
Samuel tells Saul to forget about the donkeys because they were found and then Samuel asks, “And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel?”
Samuel is asking Saul if becoming the king is more important than finding the lost donkeys.
Saul’s answer to being told he is chosen to be the king is very similar to Gideon- basically claiming that he’s the weakest person in the weakest tribe so why should it be him.
Samuel then takes Saul and places him in the place of honor at dinner and tells the cook to bring Saul the food that was set aside.
Giving Saul this portion of food was supposed to be a really high honor.
Samuel tells Saul to forget about the donkeys because they were found and then Samuel asks, “And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel?”
Samuel is asking Saul if becoming the king is more important than finding the lost donkeys.
Saul’s answer to being told he is chosen to be the king is very similar to Gideon- basically claiming that he’s the weakest person in the weakest tribe so why should it be him.
Samuel then takes Saul and places him in the place of honor at dinner and tells the cook to bring Saul the food that was set aside.
Giving Saul this portion of food was supposed to be a really high honor.
I Samuel 10:1-13
Saul's Anointing
˜The private anointing ceremony by oil was to serve as a setting apart of Saul to get him ready to become king. In verses 2-5 Saul is given three different signs by Samuel of things that would happen to him that would validate his anointing as the king.
˜The 1st sign was meeting 2 men at Rachel’s tomb that would tell Saul that his father isn’t worried about the donkeys but is instead worried about his son.
˜The 2nd sign was at the oak of Tabor where Saul would meet 3 men. One carrying 3 goats, one carrying 3 loaves of bread, and the third carrying wine. Saul was to accept bread from them after they greeted him.
˜The third sign was when Saul got to Gibeath-elohim a group of musical prophets would greet Saul and then he would start prophesying himself. This prophesying would symbolize that the Spirit of the Lord had come on Saul and made him into a new man, ready to be the king.
˜When Saul left Samuel Yahweh gave Saul a new heart, the qualities necessary to be king over the Israelites.
˜The private anointing ceremony by oil was to serve as a setting apart of Saul to get him ready to become king. In verses 2-5 Saul is given three different signs by Samuel of things that would happen to him that would validate his anointing as the king.
˜The 1st sign was meeting 2 men at Rachel’s tomb that would tell Saul that his father isn’t worried about the donkeys but is instead worried about his son.
˜The 2nd sign was at the oak of Tabor where Saul would meet 3 men. One carrying 3 goats, one carrying 3 loaves of bread, and the third carrying wine. Saul was to accept bread from them after they greeted him.
˜The third sign was when Saul got to Gibeath-elohim a group of musical prophets would greet Saul and then he would start prophesying himself. This prophesying would symbolize that the Spirit of the Lord had come on Saul and made him into a new man, ready to be the king.
˜When Saul left Samuel Yahweh gave Saul a new heart, the qualities necessary to be king over the Israelites.
˜As Saul journeyed the 3 signs came to pass and after the group of musical prophets came down to Saul the Spirit of the Lord rushed on him and he began to prophesy.
˜People that had known him previously were surprised to see him prophesying and began gossiping amongst each other.
˜People that had known him previously were surprised to see him prophesying and began gossiping amongst each other.
I Samuel 10:14-27
Saul Before the People
˜When Saul got home his uncle asked him where he had been and he said that he went looking for the donkeys and that he’d met Samuel. When the uncle asked him to disclose what Samuel had said Saul became tentative and only mentioned that Samuel told him the donkeys had been found. Saul did not tell him that Samuel had anointed him king.
˜Here’s where we get another parallel between Saul and Gideon: Gideon was tentative to talk admit his relationship to Yahweh, as is Saul.
˜When Samuel calls all the people together at Mizpah he gets in one more dig, “But today you have rejected your God…” Samuel was not in favor of an earthly king.
˜When it says that a decision was made by casting lots there actually are no descriptions of what the ancient Hebrews did to cast lots.
˜The High Priest was described to carry 2 stones called the urim and the thummim in order to determine the Lord’s will on issues but what these actually looked like and how they would have been used to determine will is completely lost to history.
˜By the time of the New Testament this practice is not as common and has disappeared by the end of the first half of the New Testament.
˜Saul the tall and handsome was also a coward! When it came time to be proclaimed king he hid in the baggage so they had to come and find him.
˜When Saul got home his uncle asked him where he had been and he said that he went looking for the donkeys and that he’d met Samuel. When the uncle asked him to disclose what Samuel had said Saul became tentative and only mentioned that Samuel told him the donkeys had been found. Saul did not tell him that Samuel had anointed him king.
˜Here’s where we get another parallel between Saul and Gideon: Gideon was tentative to talk admit his relationship to Yahweh, as is Saul.
˜When Samuel calls all the people together at Mizpah he gets in one more dig, “But today you have rejected your God…” Samuel was not in favor of an earthly king.
˜When it says that a decision was made by casting lots there actually are no descriptions of what the ancient Hebrews did to cast lots.
˜The High Priest was described to carry 2 stones called the urim and the thummim in order to determine the Lord’s will on issues but what these actually looked like and how they would have been used to determine will is completely lost to history.
˜By the time of the New Testament this practice is not as common and has disappeared by the end of the first half of the New Testament.
˜Saul the tall and handsome was also a coward! When it came time to be proclaimed king he hid in the baggage so they had to come and find him.