1 Sam 10:1-8 GOD DIRECTS OUR LIVES ES 31 Jan 15 1537
We saw last week how God prepares a king for Israel.
• He led Saul to Samuel, and prepares Samuel to anoint him king.
• The two met because God made it happen. God did it out of compassion for Israel, to prepare them a king.
Samuel finally anoints Saul as king, in 1 Samuel 10. Let’s read 1 Sam 10:1-8.
Samuel says Saul will experience THREE signs when he leaves him after the anointing. These are the ASSURANCES from God for Saul’s concerns.
There are THREE things in Saul’s mind at this point:
(1) Finding his father’s donkeys. That was the initial reason why he left his house. At this point it hasn’t been resolved.
(2) He has no money with him. This is a real need.
1 Sam 9 tells us when they decided to go to the town and look for the seer, Saul said (9:7), “What can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
The servant has only a quarter of a shekel of silver, and he said, “I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.” (9:8)
(3) Now he is thrusted with a new responsibility to lead Israel. Not sure if he can cope with this.
So he has a problem at hand (donkeys), a need that is pressing (no money and food), and now a new challenge in the coming days (kingship).
• But God led him to this place. God initiated it and He orchestrated everything to this point. Saul has to learn to trust God.
• Billy Graham: “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.” When God calls, He enables.
And that’s what we see here. God directs and provides. This is true of Saul and this is true for each one of us.
1. God ASSURES Saul that He will take care of his “problem”.
• When Samuel first met him, he said - 9:20 “As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found.”
• When he anoints him in 1 Sam 10 he said: “When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, `The donkeys you set out to look for have been found…” (10:2)
• Two men would tell him where the lost donkeys are.
It is interesting to note that the issue of the lost donkeys featured prominently in the discourse. God cares about our practical needs! It may be a small matter but He knows our concerns. God cares for our troubles.
2. God ASSURES Saul that his material needs will be met.
Saul and servant came with nothing, but the moment he saw Samuel, he was ushered into a feast.
• 1 Sam 9:22-24 22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited-about thirty in number. 23Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside." 24So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, "Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, `I have invited guests.'" And Saul dined with Samuel that day.
• That’s specially-prepared mutton soup! (Reminds me of the one Tony and Siew Gake prepared for us.)
• Samuel set him in the best place and presented to him the best dish. God prepares the BEST for him.
And finally when Saul leaves Samuel after the anointing - 1 Sam 10:3-4
• 3 “Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.”
• Two men will provide the food he needs for the return trip home. God prepares what he needs. God cares about our needs.
Last week Sis Linda shared this testimony. A few months back we were raising funds for the church van. Linda just graduated from TCA College and jobless, she has $40 with her but felt led to pledge an offering instead. So she tells the Lord she will offer $400, still wondering where the money come from.
Amazingly that week, she received a call from one parent asking her if she could give Chinese tuition for her kid. She gladly say yes. She got some income to meet the pledge. In fact, she can give more than that. So she decided to give more.
When she did that, she received another call for more tuition!
God meets our needs!
And finally, Saul’s third concern – can he really do the job?
• 1 Sam 9:21 Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?"
3. God ASSURES Saul that He will enable him.
Samuel says he will meet a procession of prophets when he leaves.
• 1 Sam 10:6-7 6The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
• The Spirit of God will come upon him the same way the Spirit comes upon the judges and enables them to do the works of God.
This is the grace of God. God enables him. No one qualifies to serve God.
• We are all vessels placed in God’s hands, cleansed and prepared by Him to serve Him. God cares about our ministry.
• This is the same picture we have in Acts 2, when the willing and obedient disciples waited for the Holy Spirit to come and enable them to be His witnesses.
It is very clear, we are filled with the Spirit with a purpose in mind! And that purpose has nothing to do with us; it has to do with the work of God’s Kingdom.
• The empowering of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, are meant for the edification of the Body of Christ and the growth of the Church.
• Take that purpose away, and there will be no reason for us to seek for the filling of the Holy Spirit.
We see God assuring Saul again and again throughout these encounters.
• God shows him that his concerns and needs will be met. When God calls, He enables.
You will be amazed how flawless God’s plan is. Will the people accept Saul? How would Saul be recognised?
• Samuel’s final word to Saul is, “Go to Gilgal and wait for me. I will come down in seven days and tell you what you are to do.” (10:8)
• Samuel calls the people to Mizpah (10:17). This is what he did – 1 Sam 10:17-24.
Samuel set the record straight; it’s not God’s choice but the people’s choice.
• They went through a selection process. This will give Saul the mandate he needs.
• God did everything He could to prepare Saul for the throne.
When we think of Saul, we think only of his failure. We’ve been taught so well in the Sunday School that Saul was a bad king.
• We can’t help but ask, “Did God chose this ‘bad king’ to punish Israel? Did God set Israel up? Did God make him fail to prove His point?”
• That question is answered in the text. NO! God did everything He can to prepare Saul, not for failure, but for SUCCESS!
Saul was given many signs to make sure that he knows and is assured, that God has chosen him.
• From the encounter with Samuel, the filling of the Holy Spirit, to the selection process – all proves that Saul was God’s choice.
• We cannot fault God. We can only fault ourselves when we fail.
God did everything possible to equip Saul for success.
• Saul failed because he chose to disobey God. It’s the FREEDOM God gives us.
• James 1:13-14 “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”
CONCLUSION
Treasure what God has given us!
• He cares about our troubles. He cares about our needs. He cares about our challenges in life and ministry.
• He provides and He equips us, so lean on Him always. Stay humble and obedient.
• You may dump Him but He will not dump you. So choose WISELY who you want to worship and serve.
