1 Samuel 10:1-8
1 Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has the Lord not anointed you as ruler over His inheritance?
2 When you leave me today, then you will find two men close to Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has stopped talking about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What am I to do about my son?” ’
3 Then you will go on farther from there, and you will come as far as the oak of Tabor, and 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 jug of wine.
4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hand.
5 Afterward you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre in front of them, and they will be prophesying.
6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be changed into a different man.
7 And it shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, because God is with you.
8 And you shall go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will be coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and inform you of what you should do.”
The Anointing of Saul
Anointing
Samuel secretly anointed Saul with oil. (1) The anointing was performed to consecrate objects or persons. (2) Here, Saul is anointed to establish him as a king consecrated by God. (3) The Hebrew word “Messiah” means “the anointed one.” The one who appears as the savior of mankind, ultimately is the one anointed by God. Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head, kissed him, and to assure Saul, prophesied three upcoming events. These served as three signs, proving that Saul had been granted royal authority.
Three signs
(1) First, near Rachel’s tomb, Saul meets two men who inform him that the female donkeys have been found and that his father is now anxious about him. (2) Next, at the oak of Tabor, he encounters three men, each carrying offerings (three young goats, three loaves of round bread, and a jug of wine). They will give Saul two loaves of bread, which he should accept. (3) Third, upon entering God’s Gibeah, Saul will meet a group of prophets descending from the high place, playing instruments and praising. At that time, the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon Saul, and he will be transformed into a completely new person. These are signs that “God is with him,” when they occur, Saul is to do whatever that must be done. Saul receives new wisdom and strength through the Spirit of the Lord, making him indeed a new person in that sense. However, whether this is the same as the “new birth” taught in the New Testament is highly questionable. As an evidence, Saul becomes increasingly arrogant as his kingship becomes established. In the conclusion of today’s passage, Samuel instructs Saul to go ahead to Gilgal and wait there for seven days until Samuel arrives. However, Saul disobeys this command this command and commits his first and fatal error. This illustrates that the truly important thing is to be born anew. “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Gal. 6:15).
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, please make me new and make me a vessel in which the Holy Spirit dwells. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.