1 Samuel 9 “This One Shall Reign”
“And when
Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man whom I spoke to you of!
This same shall reign over my people.” (v.17)
Back in
chapter 8 the elders of Israel demanded that Samuel anoint a king to rule over
them just like all the other nations. In so doing, they had literally rejected
God as their king for a man. Samuel warned them of the dangers of desiring an
earthly king but the people refused to hear his voice. They wanted someone they
could see, someone to led them into battle against their enemies and to judge
them (8:19-20)
Here in
chapter 9 we see God’s choice, Saul, a Benjamite, a donkey herder, not exactly a
great resume for the job. However, to look upon, he was everything the elders
could want.
Scripture
tells us he was, “a choice young man, and goodly: and there was not among the
children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he
was higher than any of the people” (v.2). Thus, his outward appearance was exactly what the people were desirous of having as
king over them, one just like the nations around them had.
The
longer I live, the longer I understand and appreciate the great truth of, not judging a book by
its cover. On very few occasions are people exactly who they seem to be at
first glance. Outward appearances can be very deceiving and misleading. Therefore, before making any impulsive or superficial decisions, get to know someone's heart.
Here
God has selected for the people exactly what they demanded back in chapter 8, someone
who has the outward appearance of kingship like all the other nations. However,
as we will learn throughout the book of Samuel, he will fall short in leadership.
The
Truth
“For the Lord does not see
as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the
heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b)
