Saul Anointed King (1 Samuel 10)

Did God confirm Saul’s calling with signs along the way? Did God’s Spirit come over Saul? What signs confirm Jesus as the anointed one, the Messiah? Let’s look in 1 Samuel 10.

Britain’s King Charles III was anointed with oil during his coronation ceremony in 2023. Did Samuel anoint Saul with olive oil privately? What first encounter did Samuel prophesy to Saul that confirmed this anointing?

Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance? 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. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’ (1 Samuel 10:1-2 NIV)

What second confirmation did Samuel prophesy for Saul?

Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. (1 Samuel 10:3-4 NKJV)

What third confirmation did Samuel prophesy for Saul?

When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. (1 Samuel 10:5-6 NLT)

What further instructions did Samuel give to Saul after these confirming encounters?

Let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do what is appropriate for the occasion; for God is with you. Go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings. Wait seven days, until I come to you and show you what you are to do. (1 Samuel 10:7-8 WEB)

Did these encounters happen just as Samuel had prophesied?

And just as Saul turned to leave Samuel’s side, God gave him a different heart, and all these signs happened that very same day. When Saul and the boy got to Gibeah, there was a group of prophets coming to meet him. God’s spirit came over Saul, and he was caught up in a prophetic frenzy right along with them. When all the people who had known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they said to each other, “What’s happened to Kish’s son? Is Saul also one of the prophets?” One of the locals then asked, “And who is their leader?” So it became a proverb: “Is Saul also one of the prophets?” When the prophetic frenzy was over, Saul went home. (1 Samuel 10:9-13 CEB)

What happened in the conversation with Saul’s uncle?

Later, Saul's uncle asked him, “Where have you been?” Saul answered, “Looking for the donkeys. We couldn't find them, so we went to talk with Samuel.” “And what did he tell you?” Saul's uncle asked. Saul answered, “He told us the donkeys had been found.” But Saul didn't mention that Samuel had chosen him to be king. (1 Samuel 10:14-16 CEV)

How did Samuel preach to the people, with smooth and flattering words or straight talk?

Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.” (1 Samuel 10:17-19 ESV)

Where was Saul hiding before the public announcement? Were there detractors?

Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matrite clan was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they searched for him, they could not find him. They again inquired of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” The Lord replied, “There he is, hidden among the supplies.” They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each to his home. Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him. But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing. (1 Samuel 10:20-27 HCSB)