Do we tend to want leaders based on superficial qualities? What outward traits did Saul have? What leader serves like Jesus did? Let’s begin in 1 Samuel 9.
What were Saul’s outstanding physical characteristics?
There was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Becorath son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. No one in Israel was more handsome than Saul, and he stood head and shoulders above everyone else. (1 Samuel 9:1-2 CEB)
Where did Saul’s companion suggest they get advice about some lost donkeys?
Kish owned some donkeys, but they had run off. So he told Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” Saul and the servant went through the hill country of Ephraim and the territory of Shalishah, but they could not find the donkeys. Then they went through the territories of Shaalim and Benjamin, but still there was no sign of the donkeys. Finally they came to the territory where the clan of Zuph lived. “Let's go back home,” Saul told his servant. “If we don't go back soon, my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us!” “Wait!” the servant answered. “There's a man of God who lives in a town near here. He's amazing! Everything he says comes true. Let's talk to him. Maybe he can tell us where to look.” (1 Samuel 9:3-6 CEV)
What did they determine to give Samuel as a gift for helping them?
Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was. (1 Samuel 9:7-10 ESV)
Did the two men finally find Samuel? Did people refuse to eat unblessed food?
As they were climbing the hill to the city, they found some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?” The women answered, “Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now came to the city, because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today. If you go quickly, you can catch up with him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests can eat. Go up immediately—you can find him now.” So they went up toward the city. Saul and his attendant were entering the city when they saw Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place. (1 Samuel 9:11-14 HCSB)
Had God revealed to Samuel the events that were about to take place?
Now one day before Saul’s arrival, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I’ll send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him as Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel. He’ll deliver my people from the control of the Philistines, because I’ve seen the suffering of my people and because their cry has come up to me.” When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man I told you about. This man will rule over my people.” As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” Samuel answered Saul: “I’m the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, and eat with me today. In the morning I’ll send you away and tell you everything that is on your mind. Now as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, don’t give any thought to them, because they’ve been found. Meanwhile, to whom is all Israel looking, if not to you and all of your father’s household?” (1 Samuel 9:15-20 ESV)
Did Saul have at least a little humility at the start of his reign?
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. (1 Samuel 9:21-24 KJV)
Did Samuel prepare Saul to hear the word of God regarding him?
Then they came down from the high place into the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. And they arose early; and at the breaking of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the young man that he might pass before us and pass onwards, but you remain standing now, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.” (1 Samuel 9:25-27 LSB)
Did Jesus emphasize a different kind of leadership to that common among kings?
And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles domineer over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22:25-27 NASB)
Do we tend to want leaders based on superficial qualities? What outward traits did Saul have? What leader serves like Jesus did? You decide!
