1 SAMUEL LESSON 10


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 10:1 "Then Samuel took a
vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said,
[Is it] not because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over
his inheritance?"

     This vial of oil was the same kind of oil, that was used to
anoint the priests to the service of the LORD. Saul was anointed into
this office of king by the LORD, Himself, even though Samuel poured
the oil. The kiss was a seal of approval by Samuel. It was honoring
Saul as king. Saul knew that everyone had great respect for Samuel.
Saul was greatly honored that Samuel would anoint him and kiss him to
show his loyalty to Saul.

     I Samuel 10:2 "When thou art departed from me to day, then thou
shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at
Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to
seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses,
and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?"

     Samuel tells Saul this in advance, so Saul will believe he is
called of God to be king. The message from the two men will, also,
relieve Saul that his father's asses are found. It will be sad news
that his father is sorrowing for him to return home. Rachel's
sepulchre is just out of Bethlehem.

     I Samuel 10:3 "Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and
thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three
men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another
carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of
wine:" I Samuel 10:4 "And they will salute thee, and give thee two
[loaves] of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands."

     This will be another sign from the LORD, that Saul has been
called as king. I am sure that Saul is still wondering, if the LORD
really did call him. These strange things happening to him
spontaneously, will certainly make him believe it is true. This will
happen in the vicinity of Bethel. These men, who meet Saul, will be
total strangers.  The fact that they give him two loaves of bread that
were intended for their offering in Bethel, should verify what has
happened to him is real.

     I Samuel 10:5 "After that thou shalt come to the hill of God,
where [is] the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass,
when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company
of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a
tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:"

     This third thing that happens to him, is even more convincing
than the first two. This is, probably, at Gibeah. These prophets will
be coming down from their place of worship. One of the schools of the
prophets, that Samuel had established, was located at Gibeah. This is
why there would be so many prophets here. The instruments are with
them, so they have been praising God in music. They chanted their
prayers and prophesy, as well. They will prophesy, when they see Saul.

     I Samuel 10:6 "And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee,
and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another
man."

     Saul will receive the gift of prophecy, when the Spirit of the
LORD comes upon him. He will be totally different, filled with the
Spirit of God. The old flesh man will be gone, and he will be a spirit
man.

     I Samuel 10:7 "And let it be, when these signs are come unto
thee, [that] thou do as occasion serve thee; for God [is] with thee."

     After this happens to Saul, the LORD will direct everything Saul
does. Saul's decisions will be in the will of God, after this special
anointing comes upon him. He will succeed, because the LORD is with
him.

     I Samuel 10:8 "And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and,
behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, [and] to
sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry,
till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do."

     Gilgal is the place, where Saul will gather the people for war.
Notice, it is Samuel who sacrifices. Samuel is the spiritual leader,
and Saul is the civil leader of the country. At this meeting at
Gilgal, Saul is to stay seven days, so Samuel can show him what he is
to do.

     I Samuel 10:9  "And it was [so], that when he had turned his back
to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs
came to pass that day."

     God removed the heart of flesh, and gave Saul a brand new heart,
guided by the Spirit of God. No longer was Saul a man of Israel. He
was, now, King of Israel under the anointing of God. His heart was a
heart of a king. God had completely changed him. There was no time
wasted.  The signs that Samuel had told him of, happened that very
day.

     I Samuel 10:10 "And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a
company of prophets met him; and the spirit of God came upon him, and
he prophesied among them."

     This is a supernatural anointing of the Spirit of God causing him
to prophesy.  Saul had not been trained. His prophecy was a gift from
God. In this type of prophecy, God speaks through the anointed.

     I Samuel 10:11 "And it came to pass, when all that knew him
beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then
the people said one to another, What [is] this [that] is come unto the
son of Kish? [Is] Saul also among the prophets?"

     The people of Israel had great respect for those who prophesied.
The school of prophesy, that Samuel started, was where they lived. The
people were familiar with prophesy, but they never knew Saul to be a
prophet. He had not attended this school. They are amazed to hear him
prophesy. Usually, your friends and relatives are the last to believe
you have been called of God. Saul was no different.

     I Samuel 10:12 "And one of the same place answered and said, But
who [is] their father? Therefore it became a proverb, [Is] Saul also
among the prophets?"

     Birth has nothing to do with prophecy. A prophet is called of God
to be a prophet.

     I Samuel 10:13 "And when he had made an end of prophesying, he
came to the high place."

     These young prophets had just come from this high place.  Now,
Saul goes to the high place to worship the LORD in his own way.  Saul
knows that something has happened to him, and he goes to pray, and
thank God for the honor he has bestowed upon him.

     I Samuel 10:14  "And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his
servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we
saw that [they were] no where, we came to Samuel."

     The uncle this is speaking of is, probably, Abner, since he is
mentioned in that way in other Scriptures. He is inquisitive about
what has happened to Saul. He really gets excited, when Saul tells him
he saw Samuel. It appears that, everyone is aware that something
special has happened to Saul. It does not mention Saul's father here,
but I am sure Saul shared with him what happened to him. Every little
detail is not covered in the telling of this.

     I Samuel 10:15 "And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what
Samuel said unto you."

     The uncle is asking for Saul to go through everything that Samuel
said and did.

     I Samuel 10:16 "And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly
that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof
Samuel spake, he told him not."

     Saul tells his uncle about the asses, which would glorify Samuel.
He does not tell him of being anointed as king of Israel. He really
does not tell him anything Samuel said to him, about his call to serve
God.

     I Samuel 10:17  "And Samuel called the people together unto the
LORD to Mizpeh;"

     This seemed to be their favorite place to call them together.
They know when Samuel calls them, they will hear from the LORD.

     I Samuel 10:18 "And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith
the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and
delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of
all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed you:"

     The LORD had separated them out as a people, who had no king,
except the LORD. He had delivered them from great bondage in Egypt,
and brought them to their promised land. He blessed them beyond all
other nations, as long as they stayed faithful to Him, and obeyed His
commandments.

     I Samuel 10:19 "And ye have this day rejected your God, who
himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations;
and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now
therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by
your thousands."

     In spite of all the wonderful things He had done for them, they
have rejected Him as their King. They want to be like all the heathen
nations around them, and have an earthly king. They are not to say
later, they did not know. All the tribes are gathered here at Mizpeh.
Each tribe is to come individually, and stand before Samuel.

     I Samuel 10:20 "And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of
Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken."

     All of the twelve tribes came before Him, and Samuel chose out
the little tribe of Benjamin.

     I Samuel 10:21 "When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come
near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the
son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be
found."

     There is no record of Matri anywhere. Saul was separated out from
all of the people of the Benjamites. He is so unsure of himself, that
he has hidden away, rather than be proclaimed as king before all of
his people.

     I Samuel 10:22 "Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if
the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he
hath hid himself among the stuff."

     We would have to say, he was a reluctant king. The question was
answered by the LORD speaking through the Urim and the Thummim of the
priest. The LORD knows exactly where he is. He was out where the wagon
loads of provisions were. He was hiding. He cannot hide from the LORD.

     I Samuel 10:23 "And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he
stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his
shoulders and upward."

     When they brought Saul in, he was a head taller than any of the
other Israelites.

     I Samuel 10:24 "And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him
whom the LORD hath chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the
people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king."

     The physical appearance of Saul was striking. The fact that he
was so tall, made him appear to have the stature of a king. They
readily accept him as their king, and begin to shout "God save the
king".

     I Samuel 10:25 "Then Samuel told the people the manner of the
kingdom, and wrote [it] in a book, and laid [it] up before the LORD.
And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house."

     They have established a government, and these laws are the law of
the land. This is like writing a constitution. This is the way the
government will be run. Now that the people have been told that Saul
is king, there is no need for them to stay. Samuel sends them home.

     I Samuel 10:26  "And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there
went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched."

     It appears, from the verse above, that God moved upon the hearts
of some of the men, and they came home with Saul, dedicated to serving
him. They would be willing to follow him completely.

     I Samuel 10:27 "But the children of Belial said, How shall this
man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But
he held his peace."

     It seems, from this Scripture, that the noble men who followed
Saul did bring him presents to help him get started as king. We
remember from other Bible studies, that the word "Belial" meant
worthless, or good for nothing. They were troublemakers. They did not
want to follow Saul, even if God had anointed him. Saul seemed to be a
patient man at this point. He did not punish those, who did not
believe in him.  Perhaps, it was because he had a little trouble
believing in himself.













                        1 Samuel 10 Questions


1.  What two things did Samuel do to Saul, that showed he was
    anointing him as king?
2.  What kind of oil was this?
3.  Who was actually anointing Saul?
4.  The first sign for Saul to watch for was what?
5.  What was the good news these two men will give him?
6.  Where is Rachel's sepulchre?
7.  What would happen at the plain of Tabor?
8.  What will these men give to Saul?
9.  What would certainly prove to Saul, that he had been ordained of
    God.
10. The three men appear to him in the vicinity of _________.
11. What were they going to do with the two loaves of bread, before
    they met Saul?
12. Who will Saul meet, coming down from the high place?
13. What will they have with them?
14. What will they do, when they see Saul?
15. What will cause Saul to prophesy?
16. When Saul begins to prophesy, what else happens to him?
17. Who will come to Gilgal, and make the burnt offerings?
18. How long will Saul tarry there?
19. When Saul turned his back to Samuel to leave, God gave him
    __________ ___________.
20. When did the signs that Samuel prophesied to Saul happen?
21. What did the people, who knew Saul, ask when they saw him
    prophesy?
22. The school of prophesy had been started by __________.
23. _________ has nothing to do with prophecy.
24. Who was Saul's uncle, probably?
25. What really excites him, that Saul tells him?
26. What is the only thing Saul tells his uncle?
27. Samuel called all the people together unto the _______ at _______.
28. What did the LORD God of Israel remind them, He had done for them?
29. How did they return His blessings on them?
30. What are the people demanding?
31. When all the tribes stood before Samuel with their thousands, what
    tribe did he separate out?
32. When they asked for Saul, where was he?
33. The LORD answered them through the ________ and the ___________.
34. When they brought him back, what made him stand out from
    everyone else?
35. How did the people feel about Saul as king?
36. This writing, in verse 25, is like what?
37. Who went with Saul, when he went to Gibeah?
38. Who was against Saul?
39. What does "Belial" mean?
40. Why did Saul not punish these of Belial?