The Anointing. 1Samuel 10:1-16 The act of anointing was a religious act of making the king God's representative to the people. The anointing oil symbolized the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the king's life and reminded him that he had the responsibility to lead his people by the wisdom of God rather than his own wisdom. The coronation of a king was a political act in which the crowned king was established from then on as the ruler of the people.
Believers today have been "anointed" by the Holy Spirit with "power from on high." This is a spiritual action taken by God for us. As a result, right from the beginning of the church on the day of Pentecost until now, near the end of this age of grace, believers have experienced God's power and communicated it to the world. "By one Spirit have we been baptized into one body." The indwelling Holy Spirit does not just come upon us for specific activities but is in us to enable us to do God's will by His power. So, Saul was anointed to be the king of Israel.
The Holy Spirit gave the power to do what God asked, but because He “came upon” people, not “indwelt” people, the fruit of the Spirit was not always produced. Saul’s power and pride grew, and the Holy Spirit left him. His humble attitude melted away. Saul was afraid to step forward and accept his responsibilities because he felt inadequate in himself rather than trusting God’s provision. Saul's attitude toward himself changed because of who he was: a self-centered, often out-of-control person. Sometimes, he was well and capable; at other times, he was evil and incapable of functioning as the king should. Regulations for kings of Israel were already given [De.17:14-20]. Israel’s kings had to answer to a higher authority - the Lord of heaven and earth. The instructions were “laid before the Lord” or “deposited before the Lord” in a special place at Mizpah.
The kiss of interest and affection was also an act of Samuel's blessing on the one who was to be the new king as he resigned his authority and leadership and bestowed it on Saul. He gracefully passed over his leadership to another without bitterness, even though he knew what would happen under the leadership of a king would be "second best." Samuel reminded Saul of his responsibility to God. "The Lord hath anointed thee to be captain." We learn the lesson from Samuel as a man who was not "seeking his own" but was "in honor preferring one another."
That mindset in mature believers is needed when the passing of time makes it plain that others are to lead the people of God in an assembly. A graceful acceptance of the inevitable change of leadership makes it much easier for the Lord's people to accept the change than if there is resistance and bad feelings. Anyone who takes responsibility for leadership must rule in dependence on God. He must represent God's interest and not act independently from the revealed will of God.
One who rules must also remember the true nature of his position. He rules under divine authority, and his life and interests are bound by the interests of the people over whom he rules. He is to work for them, care for them, and lead them in times of difficulty and danger. He is not to tell them what to do and then not show up himself. Thirdly, he is to take account of the fact that the people he leads belong to God. As the captain, he is a steward of the Lord who has been entrusted with those who are the people of God. He will have to give an account of his stewardship. Samuel, the prophet, was one who spoke for God. The prediction of events and/or the future was part of what the prophet did, but the most important part of his work was to instruct the people of God and challenge them to be faithful to God in their lives and service for Him.
There were given to Saul signs from Samuel to follow from Rachel's tomb to the throne. At the tomb, he learned that what was lost (donkeys) had been found, and now he was the object of concern and love. Two men similarly gave him that important message; two men at another tomb of the Lord Jesus told the message of the resurrected Lord and of His interest in those who followed Him. The Lord went from the tomb to a higher throne where He sits on the right hand of God. Saul went to the oak of Tabor (purpose), and there we learn of the purpose of God that does not fail. Our faith that rests on the foundation of God does not change.
Three spiritual men were going up to God to Bethel, the house of God. Their interest was in the God of Bethel, not just the place. They were also intelligent men because they were not going to meet God empty-handed. They had appropriate gifts for Him that they knew He could accept. The one who had three kids of the goats knew what was needed for the sin offering to approach God. Another had three loaves for the meal offering so that God could be satisfied with them. The third man had wine for the drink offering of testimony to be poured out. Not only were these men spiritually intelligent, but they were also men of grace. They received Saul and were willing to give him two loaves of their bread.
Spiritual men today come to meet with God and His people with a psalm to comfort, a doctrine to exhort, and a revelation to edify. Praise to God and the word of God are not bound by time or place. Our gathering unto our Lord occurs in the middle of all the ungodly activities surrounding us, and He is willing to receive us there. Our gathering together to worship, remember, testify, and proclaim his word is to Him, not to a place of our convenience or our choosing.
At the "hill of God," which was located in the possession of the Philistines, he would exercise his gift under the guidance of the Spirit of God. In spite of their condition and position of failure, God was still working with His people there. The Lord raised up His "standard" right in the middle of the worldly people all around. Samuel also told Saul to wait there for him to come. Waiting is often a test of faith that many of the Lord's people fail. When we wait on the Lord, we should never put our confidence in the flesh.
At Gilgal, Saul got impatient two years later and failed to wait for God's time and man. That was the beginning of his downfall as a leader. Saul had never before shown interest in spiritual things, so it was with astonishment to the on-lookers that Saul fell under the influence of the prophets. It appeared to them outwardly that he was inwardly under the power of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God came temporarily upon Saul, but for him, the work of the Spirit of God in "prophesying," saying what was right and what would happen, was superficial. It wasn't a word that came from his heart.
It would create a response similar to those today who would look at a worldly person adapting to the activities of the Lord's people. People would say, "You've got to be kidding!!! Saul had found religion?!" "Is Saul among the prophets?" was a statement of surprise and incredulity. "Him, a Christian?" would be a way many people look at those who claim to be a child of God and who are known for their worldliness.
Gift and grace are two very different things. Some people have "tasted of the heavenly gift" but have never experienced the grace of God in their hearts. They can do what is expected of a Christian without being born again of the Spirit of God. People can say the right things and know the right answers to problems without having a divine nature within them. The indwelling Holy Spirit today enables God's people to not only say what is right but be what is right and do what is right when they are yielded to the Holy Spirit and have "no confidence in the flesh."
When Saul met his uncle, who wanted to know everything that had happened to him, he only told of his search for the donkeys, not anything about his contact with Samuel regarding being anointed Israel's king. He didn't mind speaking of the trivial things but, for some reason, didn't speak of that which was important. It may have been that he was embarrassed about being chosen king or even that he didn't realize the importance of being chosen by God.
If we don't confess the Lord Jesus before men, He "will not confess us before the angels in heaven." As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we may find it strange that people would rather have a human leader and guide in spiritual things rather than be guided by the Spirit of God. But throughout human history, this has been true of the natural man.
However, more serious and startling is the fact that many professing Christians would rather have a human religious leader to speak for God than to feel their own personal responsibility to God. They want a person to speak to God for them, and then if there is failure of some kind, they have someone else to blame for their sin. God intends for every believer to follow the Lord by faith personally. There are gifts given to each believer for the benefit of other believers, and it is everyone's responsibility to "not neglect the gift that is in thee." One well said, "Encouraging others is a most welcome gift, for the results of it are lifted spirits." For any person to push God to one side and establish a man as their authority in spiritual things is a rejection of the preeminence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Saul was a man of the flesh, and human weakness was demonstrated in his life and during his reign as king of Israel.
It happened just like God said; on the way up to Bethel, the place known as the house of God, God clearly gave the answer through other people. Three men with three goats, three loaves of bread, and wine gave Saul two of the loaves. When God’s Spirit is at liberty to work through others for my good, it is an occasion to be cherished. Some things that happen are clear as to why, and there are other things I must hear some instructions or explanations in order to understand the purpose.
I pray that I never will hinder the Holy Spirit’s endeavor to bring blessings to others through me. May I always be so close that the One who has chosen me will be honored, and others will see His glory through any effort put forth for Him.