1 Samuel 10:17-27 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 10:17-27. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Samuel 10:17-19 (NIV)
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 calamities and distresses. And you have said, ‘No, set a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
On verses 17-19: What was so wrong with the Israelites demanding that they have a king to rule over them? In doing so, the Israelites were rejecting God as their king, the very One who had successfully brought them out of slavery in Egypt and enabled them to conquer nations much greater than them. They were taking God for granted and saying that they now wanted to be like other nations and have a human king. The Israelites were idolizing the idea of having their own human king, not appreciating all the costs and difficulties that would come with it (1 Samuel 8:6-20).
Don’t fall into the trap of putting your hope in a person rather than in God. Don’t think that a person can save you when only God can.
1 Samuel 10:20-24 (NIV)
20 When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. 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 baggage.”
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!”
On verses 20-24: How are we to view Saul’s hiding among the baggage when it was time for him to be revealed as Israel’s king (v22)? Was this an act of humility or an act of fear? Some believe this was an act of humility, that it showed how Saul wasn’t hungry for the spotlight, just like he didn’t tell his family earlier about him being anointed king (v16). Maybe. But I think the better view is that this was an act of fear, an early hint of the insecurity that would plague Saul’s reign as king. Even though Saul had been anointed by God as king, even though he had been equipped by the Holy Spirit with spiritual gifts to lead, even though he was a head taller than everyone else, Saul still struggled to see himself in his new identity as king. He still saw himself as a nobody from a nothing clan from the smallest tribe in Israel (9:21). Thus when it was time for him to be revealed to the people, he wasn’t ready, but hiding.
Saul’s insecurity and fear would cause him to do many unfortunate things later on. Hiding among the baggage, while not a big deal on its own, was a sign of things to come.
What can we learn from this? Your identity (who you think you are) affects everything you do. Every Christian today is anointed (set apart for service) and equipped (gifted for service), but if you are not confident in your identity, you will not thrive serving God. As a Christian you are anointed and gifted, but if you see yourself as a weak, useless, dirty, worthless sinner, that poor self-image will handicap your anointing and gifting.
The fact is this: when you came to Christ, God not only gave you a new anointing and gifting, He also gave you a new identity! In Christ, you are strong, capable, forgiven, clean and precious in God’s eyes. You are now a saint, not a sinner. Remember your new identity in Christ every time you serve and it will change how you operate in your anointing and gifting.
Just like Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “a triple braided cord is not easily broken”. Your anointing, gifting and identity are like three ropes that you must tie together if you want to serve God effectively.
1 Samuel 10:25-27 (NIV)
25 Samuel explained to the people the regulations of the kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the LORD. Then Samuel dismissed the people, each to his own home.
26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.
27 But some troublemakers said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.
On verses 25-27: After Saul was revealed as Israel’s king, two types of people showed up. On one hand, “valiant men whose hearts God had touched” (v26) came to Saul’s side and supported him. On the other hand, “troublemakers” and “scoundrels” criticized Saul, refusing to honour or submit to their God-appointed leader (v27).
What can we learn from this? How well you support your God-given leaders says a lot about your character and how much God is working in your life. Any cowardly fool can selfishly stand on the sideline and criticize. But it takes courageous people to go to the front line and support their God-given leader. How well do you support your God-given leaders? Are you critical of and resistant to their leadership? Are you apathetic and preoccupied with doing your own thing? Or do you do your best to encourage and support your leaders? Give your best support to your God-given leaders, and God will bless it. Your success and your leader’s success go hand in hand (Hebrews 13:17).
Lord Jesus, thank You that in You I have a new anointing, gifting and identity. I proclaim that because of Jesus I am accepted, chosen, forgiven, valuable, strong, anointed, gifted, and set apart for You. May I follow my leaders well, while at the same always putting my hope in You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
