1 Samuel 10
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel 10
Over the last couple days, we read in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel demanded a king. Samuel gave severe warnings about this, but the people did not listen. In 1 Samuel 9, the occasion of lost donkeys led the young Saul into the presence of Samuel at the insistence of his servant. Instead of helping Saul find the donkeys, Samuel informed him they had already been found. Not only that, but Samuel made Saul eat with him and stay the night. Chapter 9 concludes with Samuel saying to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”
Opening chapter 10, we’re witnessing the private conversation between the prophet, Samuel, and what must have been a very confused Saul. Samuel anointed Saul as king over Israel. He also told him in detail what would happen on his journey home. All of it came to pass.
Samuel called all of Israel together for the formal pronouncement of Israel’s new king. Once assembled, Samuel spoke to the crowd with a “don’t say I didn’t warn you” kind of speech. He rebuked them saying, “Today you have rejected your God…” having not listened to the warnings from chapter 8.
They cast lots until Saul was identified but absent from the assembly hiding amongst the baggage. Notice verse 23, “Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.” And, the people cheered.
Looking through this passage, what really sticks out is the apparent disregard for the heart of God. As stated, Samuel’s warning in chapter 8 was severe. Instead, they rolled the dice on those consequences focusing on a leader that they could see with their own eyes. Samuel said as much in verse 24, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen?” Saul looked kingly. The external appearance mattered more to the people than did God’s loving but unseen heart.
By all appearances, Saul would become a great king. Although the Bible only focuses on his early success and later spiritual failings, the kingdom that David inherited was united and strong. From an earthly perspective, Saul was great—not good—great. The only things missing in that greatness was God’s heart.
In what ways do you overly focus on externals? In what ways do you miss the heart of God when He’s asking for your trust and dependence? Like the people of Israel, God often gives us exactly what we ask for—they wanted a king like the other nations that could fight for them and that’s what they got. The problem is that we’re aiming too small. When it comes to your relationships, when it comes to your career, when it comes to establishing priorities and putting first things first, are we focusing on externals, on what we can do or accomplish, or are we focusing on the heart of God?
Written By: Tyler Short
Over the last couple days, we read in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel demanded a king. Samuel gave severe warnings about this, but the people did not listen. In 1 Samuel 9, the occasion of lost donkeys led the young Saul into the presence of Samuel at the insistence of his servant. Instead of helping Saul find the donkeys, Samuel informed him they had already been found. Not only that, but Samuel made Saul eat with him and stay the night. Chapter 9 concludes with Samuel saying to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”
Opening chapter 10, we’re witnessing the private conversation between the prophet, Samuel, and what must have been a very confused Saul. Samuel anointed Saul as king over Israel. He also told him in detail what would happen on his journey home. All of it came to pass.
Samuel called all of Israel together for the formal pronouncement of Israel’s new king. Once assembled, Samuel spoke to the crowd with a “don’t say I didn’t warn you” kind of speech. He rebuked them saying, “Today you have rejected your God…” having not listened to the warnings from chapter 8.
They cast lots until Saul was identified but absent from the assembly hiding amongst the baggage. Notice verse 23, “Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.” And, the people cheered.
Looking through this passage, what really sticks out is the apparent disregard for the heart of God. As stated, Samuel’s warning in chapter 8 was severe. Instead, they rolled the dice on those consequences focusing on a leader that they could see with their own eyes. Samuel said as much in verse 24, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen?” Saul looked kingly. The external appearance mattered more to the people than did God’s loving but unseen heart.
By all appearances, Saul would become a great king. Although the Bible only focuses on his early success and later spiritual failings, the kingdom that David inherited was united and strong. From an earthly perspective, Saul was great—not good—great. The only things missing in that greatness was God’s heart.
In what ways do you overly focus on externals? In what ways do you miss the heart of God when He’s asking for your trust and dependence? Like the people of Israel, God often gives us exactly what we ask for—they wanted a king like the other nations that could fight for them and that’s what they got. The problem is that we’re aiming too small. When it comes to your relationships, when it comes to your career, when it comes to establishing priorities and putting first things first, are we focusing on externals, on what we can do or accomplish, or are we focusing on the heart of God?
Written By: Tyler Short
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