Bible 101 - I Samuel Chapters 10-14

Presented October 25, 2004 by Phyllis Gilbert

Review: Last week, we witnessed the return of the ark, the revival of the Israelites, God fighting for them and defeating the Philistines, the people's request for a king, and God's granting their request, telling Samuel to anoint Saul.

Saul: We talked about Saul's appearance: handsome, tall, the picture of a king, and especially one who could lead them into battle (and victory). Who chose Saul? Did God or did the people or both? God told Samuel to anoint him, but the people were looking for someone who fit their image of king. Saul fails, and perhaps one reason he failed is that he was good to look at but not made of the spiritual strength that being king of Israel required. I believe God chose Saul, perhaps because the people had demanded such a man. It would be unwise to say that God chose him and allowed him to be king to "show the people" their mistake. That would be cynical and criticizing God. The Israelites were punished for such murmuring and second guessing in the Wilderness. But Saul as king is an enigma, and a tragic character. He does, however, begin well.

I Samuel 10: We met Saul in ch. 9, in Ramah, and Samuel tells him there that he will be king. Samuel therefore anoints him, pouring oil over his head. Oil is always symbolic of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Recall that when the priests were anointed, we read that the oil ran down Aaron's beard. They were drenched with this oil and the Spirit's presence. It is only in the Spirit's strength that they can ever do their jobs. Samuel also tells Saul what's ahead that day: he'll meet two men, they'll say "the donkeys have been found," and later, by a tree in Tabor, he'll meet three more men who will give him gifts of bread. Still later, he'll go to Gibeah, meet several prophets, and when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, Saul, too, will prophesy. Now for Saul, this must have been overwhelming and amazing. One day he's out searching for his father's donkeys and the next day, he's told he'll be king and a string of unlikely meetings and events are forecast to confirm it. Can't you see Saul looking bewildered. But he goes off, and as he does "God changed Saul's heart." This is God's first work in him. Saul doesn't go to a royal academy; he doesn't enroll in Kingship 101. He's given the ability to be open to God's leading, and it is God who will teach him what he needs to know to be king.

Deut. 17:14ff: Remember in Deuteronomy, we read that a king was to copy the law - every word that Moses had written - read it and abide by it. That, in sum, was all he needed to know. If he followed God's word and adhered to every part of the Covenant, he'd be a success in God's eyes. He'd be a spiritual as well as a civil leader. And for Saul, military leadership was also a necessity. God is giving Saul a chance to learn all of this.

I Samuel 10:9: Saul discovers that all Samuel had predicted happened, and he does begin to prophesy himself. Prophesy, incidentally, doesn't mean predicting the future, although that is what some prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel do. But prophets like Samuel spoke God's word to the people. They hear what God says and convey it to the people - instruction, warnings, admonitions - and yes, there may also be predictions of future events. But not always. Notice how the people react: "Is this Saul the son of Kish? Is he also a prophet?" They are flabbergasted; Saul has not been known for his spiritual development, and all of this is quite new and startling to the people. Why does God do this? I think it was mainly to convince Saul that God was with him. Just as God empowered Gideon and Samson, he now empowers and emboldens Saul. He will need to believe in God and believe that God is with him in order to carry out his job as king.

I Samuel 10:14: Now Saul is observed by and has a conversation with his uncle. They talk about Samuel's telling Saul that the donkeys had been found, but notice, Saul doesn't tell his uncle that he's to be king. Perhaps he doesn't yet believe it.

I Samuel 10:17: Samuel gathers the people at Mizpah again, and there, he tells them who is to be king. By tribe and clan, the field is narrowed down to Kish's son Saul, but he is no where to be found. Saul, the man anointed king, is hiding among the baggage. Why? He was afraid, lacked confidence, still thought someone else would be chosen. He had stage fright. He was just plain timid. All this doesn't bode well - except that God can use anyone. Remember Gideon? The angel greeted him "ho, mighty warrior" when Gideon was hiding in a wine press. God used a man who thought he could lead no one to win a major victory for Israel. God can use anyone who's willing to be used.

I Samuel 10:24: Samuel introduces Saul as their king and they respond "Long live the king!" What is Saul thinking? The entire day must have seemed a dream to him, as though it were happening to someone else, but he's well and truly king of Israel, and his education is about to begin. Samuel writes on a scroll the "regulations of the kingship" and puts it in the sanctuary. Like the law, this is a sacred document, and meant to be a record for both the people and the king. It's a contract. God is their king, but on the throne, a man will sit who will do what God asks him to do.

I Samuel 10:26: As the crowd is breaking up and going home, Saul goes home, too, and overhears some people say "how can he save us?" The murmurs have begun and Saul has not done a single thing as king. Are there going to be those in Israel who have second thoughts? Is opposition going to bring Saul down? Saul says nothing. But I wonder if it begins to erode his still new, and still fragile confidence.

I Samuel 11: Saul's first test comes quickly. The men of Jabesh Gilead are attacked by the Ammonites (Ammon's descendants; Ammon was one of the sons of Lot and his daughters). The Ammonites want a treaty and as a sign, they'll gouge out the right eye of each man there. The leaders of the city ask for 7 days. Saul comes upon one of the messengers the city's leaders have sent throughout the country. He asks what all the weeping is about, and God's Spirit falls on him. He is angry at this threat from the Ammonites, and cuts up two oxen, sending pieces of them throughout the country with the message "this is what will happen to anyone who doesn't follow Saul and Samuel." Very effective: 330,000 men come to fight. Saul says to the men of Jabesh Gilead "by the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered." So the leaders tell the Ammonites, "tomorrow we will surrender to you," knowing they wouldn't have to. A good stalling ruse. Saul uses strategy and slaughters the Ammonites, delivering his people. Now his stock is going up.

I Samuel 11:12: Someone asks Samuel about the nay-sayers: shouldn't they be put to death for not believing in Saul and speaking discouragement? No says Saul, "no one shall be put to death today," the victory being a cause for celebration. Then the nation confirms Saul as king: a great celebration ensues and all Israel is united behind their hero.

I Samuel 12: In a move to cement the loyalty of Israel behind Saul, and not to cause division by remaining "on stage," Samuel says farewell to the people. He will remain active, but not as their leader as he had been for so many years. Samuel would prefer that the people had never asked for a king; in fact, he tells them they've sinned by asking for a king. He would prefer that the people honor God as their king. But he sees reality, and as God has anointed Saul, Samuel won't stand around and complain or cause trouble. He won't stir up his own factions or cause a split in the kingdom. This casts him as a very wise man, one in whom Saul should place confidence as an advisor. Samuel asks the people to confirm his honesty; this is a necessity. They will hear from him as a prophet, and will say things they may not want to hear. But they admit that he's been scrupulous in leading them. Then Samuel recites their history: all the miracles God did for them, the leaders he provided them, and the victories God won for them. This, Samuel says, should make them obedient and trusting; "Fear the Lord, serve and obey him," he tells them. And then warns them that if they do not obey God, they will find "his hand against them" as it was against their fathers. Then Samuel does something strange: it's harvest time, and he asks God to send a thunder storm - not usual for a season when the weather was dry. This was to confirm that God's power was mighty, and that he would punish them for disobedience. But then Samuel tells them, when they confess their sin and ask forgiveness, that God loves them and will honor his covenant with their fathers. "Consider what great things he has done for you," Samuel tells them, and "fear God." What Samuel is doing is what Moses and Joshua did before him: He must tell the people once more that God is their king, the source of all they have, and that God demands nothing less than total obedience. A human king is one thing; but that human king serves only with God's permission. Their trust and faith belong to God and God alone. If they get this right, their time under a human leader will be OK.

I Samuel 13: Now we get some more information about Saul: he's 30 when he becomes king, reigns for 42 years, and chooses 3,000 men as a standing army. He anticipates more battles. His son Jonathan is introduced here; Jonathan is a good soldier and officer, and he attacked the Philistines at Geba, provoking an all-out war with them. Saul assembled more troops to augment the 3,000, and they mustered at Gilgal. It is here that he makes his first big blunder: he does not wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifice before battle. Saul himself does it, and Saul, anointed as king, but not as priest, is not authorized to do this. Remember in Leviticus 10 when Aaron's sons used "unauthorized fire"? They were wiped out, immediately, by God for this disobedience. Saul is chastised, but not killed. He is told that his family will not continue to hold the throne, a blow to Saul. Samuel goes home; Saul counts his men (all but 600 have left). And he also discovers that the Philistines have the blacksmith concession for the region; no one except Saul and Jonathan have swords or spears. They can't afford them. This is bad because the Philistines are going to attack.

I Samuel 14: Jonathan takes the initiative to raid a Philistine camp with just his armor bearer who says to him "I'm with you heart and soul." They have faith that God will fight with them, and indeed, he does. The two of them kill 20 men, and it sends panic in the entire Philistine army. Saul's spies see the opposition forces fleeing and he musters his troops and off they go, finding that the Philistines are fighting each other. God gives them a rousing victory that day.

I Samuel 14:24: Saul had issued a command that no one eat - in effect, he asks them to fast while they fight. This doesn't make sense; as we know, "an army travels on its stomach," and without the strength food can provide, they'll be weak. Jonathan had been away from the crowd when his father issued the command, and when he's walking through the woods and finds honey, he eats it. Someone nearby tells him what Saul had commanded, and Jonathan, knowing how the men are faint, understands their weakness. The Israelites win the battle, however, and take a lot of plunder, among which is cattle. The men, so hungry, butcher the animals and eat them when they hadn't been properly bled. (In Leviticus 17 the Israelites were told never to eat anything with blood in it because "the life of the animal is in the blood.") Saul is shown their sin, and he commands that they bring cattle to a rock to slaughter them so they would not sin. Saul built an altar there.

I Samuel 14:36: Saul wants to take raiding parties into the Philistine camps to take more plunder, but decides to ask the priest to inquire whether God will sanction this or not. God doesn't answer. Saul says "there has been sin" (and he's not referring to the eating of blood; this has been atoned for with their sacrifice). Saul vows that the culprit will die - even if it's Jonathan who's guilty. They cast lots and Jonathan is shown to be the one. Saul asks him what he's done, and Jonathan says he tasted honey, but wonders why he should die for that. Saul says he will. The men, however, speak up in Jonathan's defense, noting that it was his leadership that led to the victory. They vow "not a hair of his head" will be harmed and their rescue prevents his death.

I Samuel 14:46: For a time, Saul leaves the Philistine pursuit and returns home to rule. He must fight other enemies and "wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them." God was with Saul at this time. At the end of the chapter, his other sons are named, along with his daughters and wife. We learn that Saul's commanding general is his cousin Abner, son of Ner, who is Saul's uncle. We read that the battles with the Philistines never end during his reign.

Next week: We'll meet David, the man with whom Saul has a love/hate relationship, and who eventually, becomes king in Saul's place.

Homework for those who want to go deeper:

Let's close in prayer.