Why Are You Hiding
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Why Are You Hiding?
Why Are You Hiding?
Let me start with prayer.
Let me start with prayer.
Last week we were in chapter 17 of 1 Samuel, David and Goliath. Today, I would like to take a step back into chapter 10 and look at the anointing of Saul as King.
Last week we were in chapter 17 of 1 Samuel, David and Goliath. Today, I would like to take a step back into chapter 10 and look at the anointing of Saul as King.
Let me refresh your memory of 1 Samuel chapter 8, Samuel, the faithful prophet, priest and final judge is the leader of Israel. The people recognize that he is getting old, and his potential successors, his sons, aren't as devoted as he is. Because of this, the people come to Samuel and ask him to petition God for a king. Not just any king but a king like all the other nations. They want this king to fight their battles for them
If you remember where we were, the week before, in 1 Samuel chapter 8, Samuel, the faithful prophet, priest and final judge is leading Israel. The people recognize that he is old, and his sons aren't as devoted as he is, so they come to Samuel and ask him to ask God for a king, like all the other nations to rule over them.
Chapter 9 introduces a new person, Saul.
Then, chapter 9 introduces a new person, Saul, that is where we are picking up the scriptures today. You may want to have your Bible open to chapter 9.
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Let me take a quick minute for a story. My Father grew up in Chicago. One of the boys from that neighborhood ended up being a professional baseball player. I asked my dad, "What was it like to grow up knowing a professional baseball player?". My Dad said, "He was nothing special." He said that he was good at baseball, but nothing special, most of the people from the neighborhood were a little surprised he became a pro.
My Father grew up in Chicago. One of the boys from that neighborhood ended up being a professional baseball player. I asked my dad, "What was it like to grow up knowing a professional baseball player?". My Dad said, "He was nothing special." He said that he was good at baseball, but nothing special, most of the people from the neighborhood were a little surprised he became a pro.
Did you ever know someone who went on to greatness? My Father grew up in Chicago. One of the boys in his neighborhood ended up becoming a professional baseball player. He ended playing for the New York Yankees. I asked my dad, what it was like to grow up in the same neighborhood with a pro baseball player. My Dad told me that at that time he was quite ordinary. He said that he was good at baseball, but not really out of the ordinary.
My Father grew up in Chicago. One of the boys in his neighborhood ended up becoming a professional baseball player. He ended playing for the New York Yankees. I asked my dad, what it was like to grow up in the same neighborhood with a pro baseball player. My Dad told me that at that time he was quite ordinary. He said that he was good at baseball, but not really out of the ordinary.
My son Austin played hockey here in Faribault. One of his former teammates, is now a pro hockey player. Now that kid, that kid you could tell there was something special. He played hockey with a certain intensity, he was just different from all the other kids on the ice. There was something about him.
My son Austin played hockey with a kid from Faribault, that is now a pro hockey player. I watched that kid play when he was little. He was good. He was the best kid on the ice, you could tell there was something special.
William Shakespeare said, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
William Shakespeare said, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
When we open chapter 9, of 1 Samuel, and we are introduced to Saul, we can’t help but wonder how that quote applies to him.
When we encounter Saul, we wonder how he fits this quote.
When we are first introduced to Saul we think Saul was born to greatness.
We are introduced to Saul in chapter 9. The first two verses of Chapter 9 may lead us to believe that perhaps Saul was born to greatness.
There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.
Saul is from a noteworthy family, tall and good looking. But, as we read on in chapter 9, we question his leadership skills.
Saul seems to be born great. He is from a family of good standing; he is handsome and tall. As we read on in chapter 9, we come across some things, which cause us to question that greatness. Saul's father's donkeys go missing. Saul and a servant are on a mission to find those donkeys. They search in one area, then another, and they can't seem to find the donkeys. Saul is ready to pack it and go home so that his father doesn't worry about him. For someone born great, you would think there would be a little more perseverance or maybe some more problem-solving skills. But not Saul, Saul is ready to go home.
As it turns out, some his father’s donkeys escape. Saul and a servant are on a mission to find them. They search in one area, then another, and they can't seem to find the donkeys. Saul is ready to pack it and go home. For someone from such good stock you would think he would posses a little more perseverance. You would think that with such good external traits he would also have some problem-solving skills. But not Saul, Saul can’t find the donkeys and is ready to go home, at least until his servant speaks up.
His servant has a better idea on how to solve this problem than he does. His servant suggests that they go and ask God. Let's ask God where the donkeys are.
His servant has an idea on how to solve this problem. His servant suggests that they go and ask God.
But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”
His servant comes up with the idea to ask God, not Saul. Saul’s response isn’t much better. He doesn’t jump on the obvious solution.
His servant comes up with the idea to ask God. What should have been first on Saul's mind, had to come to him from a servant. Not only that, but Saul even tries to resist that.
Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
Saul, the one from the upstanding family, doesn't even have any cash.
Saul doesn't even have any cash. At least Saul has a good servant.
Leave it to the servant again; he will save the day.
Leave it to the servant again; he will save the day.
The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.”
What the world views as greatness, may not be greatness at all. The tall, handsome man with the important background may not be as great we think. With his skills it is hard to believe that he will achieve greatness. If this man is to reach greatness, he will need it thrust upon him.
What the world views as greatness, may not be greatness at all. The tall, handsome man with the important background may not be as great we think, If this man achieves greatness, he will need it thrust upon him.
When Saul and his servant go up to meet with the "Man of God" to find out which way to go, Samuel enters the story. Samuel is the man of God in Israel at that time, and Samuel, as it turns out, is expecting them.
Saul and his servant go up to meet with the "Man of God". The man of God is of course no other than Samuel. And Samuel it turns out, is expecting them.
When Saul and his servant go up to meet with the "Man of God" to find out which way to go, Samuel enters the story. Samuel is the man of God in Israel at that time, and Samuel, as it turns out, is expecting them.
Previously, the Lord told Samuel that Saul and his servant would be coming up to meet them.
Previously, the Lord told Samuel that Saul and his servant would be coming up to meet them.
“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”
The Lord does not only have his hand on the big picture, of the nation of Israel, but God is even involved in the small stuff. God is involved in the everyday annoying things, like the loss of donkeys, and Saul's incompetence, and God is using it to play out his glorious plan for the nation.
The Lord does not only have his hand over the big picture, watching over Israel as a nation. but God is even involved in the seemingly small everyday annoying things like the loss of donkeys, and Saul's incompetence.
God brought Saul across the land to Samuel, so that Samuel could anoint him RULER over Israel. The word used in that verse is important. The NIV translates it as ruler. It could also be leader, or military commander, but it is not the word for King. That is significant. The author did not use the word King, but chose leader, or ruler instead, because Yahweh is King. Yahweh will always be King. Saul’s appointment will be as a leader, not the King.
God brought Saul across the land to Samuel, so that Samuel could anoint him RULER over Israel. That word is important, ruler in the NIV. It could also be leader or military commander, but it is not the word for King. Yahweh is King and always will be King. Saul is being anointed as a ruler or a leader.
Yahweh is King and always will be King. Saul is being anointed as a ruler or a leader.
God, the king, can move donkeys at will, a human leader struggles to corral them. It is like that in our churches. Jesus is King. Jesus is our king, the people he lifts up, or brings down as leaders are just that leaders, Jesus is King of his church.
God, the king, can move donkeys at will, a human leader struggles to corral them. Jesus is our King. He rules over our churches and our hearts Jesus is our king, the people he lifts up, or brings down as leaders are just that leaders of men, Jesus is King of our lives. Jesus changes hearts and minds, Jesus alters events and brings people to hear His gospel.
Samuel, God says, is to anoint Saul for a specific purpose. He is to anointed ruler to fight the Philistines. Saul is not to be a King; he is not to rule forever, he is to deliver Israel from the Philistines.
Samuel is to anoint Saul for a specific purpose, to fight the Philistines. Saul is not to be a King; he is not to rule forever, he is to deliver Israel from the Philistines.
So Samuel anoints Saul. At the beginning of Chapter 10, Samuel pours oil over Saul's head and tells him to look for three very specific signs.
So Samuel annoints him. He takes a flask of Olive Oil, and he pours it over Saul's head, in the beginning of Chapter 10, and he gives him 3 signs.
The first sign is in verse 2.
When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?” ’
Next in verse 3,
“Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine.
Then the third sign in verse 5.
“After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.
Then, after that, in verse 6.
The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.
The Spirit of the Lord will change Saul into a different person.
Three very specific signs, and he will be changed.
This is exactly what happens. Verse 9
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.
When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.
The sign's are fulfilled. Saul is changed, the Spirit of God comes upon, him. Born great? Perhaps on the outside, but what was lacking internally has now been changed by God. Saul now has the hand of God on him. He is the leader of Israel, there is no doubt. Or at least there should be no doubt in his mind, I mean after all everyone else sees the change.
When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Something is different about Saul, everyone sees it, but, Saul is reluctant to talk about it.
He encounters his uncle, and his uncle starts asking questions
Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.
He leaves out the part about becoming leader of Israel. You would think that would be important right? Why does he do that? I am not sure, but it does get worse.
Samuel needs to announce the new king to Israel, so he has all the tribes of Israel assembled at Mizpah. Samuel warns them one last time, that Yahwe is supposed to be the king.
and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’
But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”
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They present themselves and cast lots.
When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.
Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
And Saul cannot be found. Where is he? Why is he hiding? Why doesn't he come forward?
The signs were fulfilled, the anointing was done. The lots were cast. God has completely placed his sovereign hand on the outcome, and Saul doesn’t come forward, and we are not told why.
We are not told. The last time that lots were cast and tribes came forward things did not work out so well for the winner. It was an event back in the book of Joshua. In Joshua chapter 7, the Israelites had just conquered Jericho, and they were told to turn over all the devoted things to the Lord. A man named Achan took some of the devoted things and hid them in the ground in his tent. So God instructed the Israelites to assemble, and they cast lots and eventually Achan's family was chosen. He confessed to the crime, and they were taken outside the camp and killed.
The last time that lots were cast and tribes came forward things did not work out so well for the winner. Do you remember that? It was an event back in the book of Joshua. In Joshua chapter 7.
“ ‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man.
Jo 7.14
The Israelites had just conquered Jericho. God told them that they were not to touch the things devoted to him, the sacred things. But, a man named Achan, couldn’t resist. They were too tempting, so he took them and hid them in the ground in his tent. So God instructed all the Israelites to assemble, and they cast lots. Eventually, the lot came to Achan's family. He confessed to the crime, and they were taken outside the camp and killed.
Maybe that weighed on Saul's mind. Maybe he couldn't bear to be the one to give the people what they deserved. Maybe he was shy, maybe he doubted God, it could be any number of reasons, but scripture doesn't tell us. What we do know is that by every indication in Saul's life up to this point he was called by God. The signs, the anointing, the Spirit of God, the Changed heart, it is all pointing to God. Now Saul needed to start acting like leader, and clearly he was not.
Saul, my Friend you cannot hide from God.
So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”
They inquire of the Lord again, and they find Saul. They run to him. The run to him and exclaim, in verse 24
Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
"Long Live the King" Not long live the ruler, not long live the general but Long Live the KING! The die has been cast the fate of the people is now in their hands, and the kingship is thrust upon Saul.
Yahweh who has been in this process every step of the way, from the lost donkeys, to the signs to the casting of lots is now cast aside and Saul is the King.
It is so easy for us to look at Saul and wag our fingers in judgement and point out all of Saul’s faults. It is so easy for us to smugly say we are not Saul. But my fear is that I am more like Saul then I care to admit.
My fear is that I don't involve God in even the seemingly unimportant things of life. My fear is that even after seeing the hand of God have an impact on my life, even after being changed by the spirit of God that I too often am willing to hide away from the God of heaven and place my light under a bushel.
This must be a real pitfall or Jesus would not have warned us not to bury our talents in the sand, not to hide our light under a bushel and exhort us to be a city on hill. My fear is that we as a church are hiding from what God has called us to be.
You see none of us are born great. No, we are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God, we all like sheep have gone astray. But Glory to God, that he sent his son Jesus Christ to pursue us, and while we were still dead in our sins, while we were still sinners died on the cross in our place, so that whosoever believes on Him, will receive a new heart of flesh and be born again by the Spirit of God. God, if you will has thrust His greatness on us, by his spirit creating in us a new person.
Sometimes other people see the change in us, and ask us, and sometimes we still stay silent or keep the gospel to ourselves.
This morning, I propose a three part solution to the Saul in us all, a three part method to come out of hiding and be who we are called to be. To walk in the Spirit that God has placed in our hearts.
Remember God’s Grace
Remember God’s Grace
What were your donkeys. What was it that brought you to the Lord? Was it a Bible study, was it confirmation class, was it a Billy Graham crusade, a Sunday Preacher, a dear friend or relative. Think back to that time when you were sure of God's action in your life. When God gave his Spirit to you. It is all over this text.
As Saul turned to leave-God changed Saul's heart. When did God change your heart? Another one, :10- The Spirit of the Lord came on Saul. Remember a time when the Spirit of the Lord came upon you?
Has anyone noticed the change? -What is this that has happened to Saul son of Kish? Have people told you of the change?
God said to Israel I led you out of Egypt? Think back to when God led you out of the captivity of sin.
Jesus says to us remeber when you turnrd from your sins, and gave them to me and I took them upon myself on the cross rember when that happened and then The Holy Spirit came upon you and your heart was made new.
Take time to Remember God’s Grace.
Relentlessly pursue God
Relentlessly pursue God
Saul went to meet with the man of God, Samuel. He ate with him, he went on the roof with him.
After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.
, after being filled with the Spirit of the Lord and prophesying he went to the high place. Relentlessly pursue the time with God.
After being filled with the Spirit of the Lord and prophesying he went to the high place. Relentlessly pursue the time with God.
In that time with God, Remember God’s grace, remember how God changed you, remember how God acted in your life, and when you are with Him ask Him. Ask Him what you are to do for Him. Relentlessly pursue God in prayer, inquiring and asking Him. Ask Him how to reach those around you. Ask him how he wants you to reach those right in your everyday life. You were not saved to hide from God.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Reach Those Near You First
Reach Those Near You First
Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.
1 Sam 10
Saul was called to fight the Philistines. The Philistines had an outpost near Gibeah. Saul was near the Philistines.
After one of Dwight L. Moody's messages a train Engineer, moved by the message approached DL Moody and asked Sir, How do I become a missionary? And DL Moody replied Sir is your fireman a Christian? The man relied, well I don't know, and DL Moody said then I suggest you start there.
Saul was called to fight the Phillisitstimes of which there was an outpost in Gibeah. Around each of us in our homes, at our work even in our churches, we are each called to place our focus on Jesus Christ, We are cllaed to love one another We are called to show the love of Jesus right where we are, until God calls us elsehwere.
After you pursue God in prayer, ask him how to reach those near you first. Reach your family, reach your neighbors, reach your friends and your co-workers. It isn’t always a presentation of the Gospel, it might be. But it could also be positive conversations about faith. It might mean through loving someone different than yourself. It may be showing love to the difficult. It may mean being positive, and expecting the best of people rather than the worst. It may mean standing up for people who cannot stand for themselves. It may mean just actually acting like Jesus when everyone else is not.