Reading: 1 Samuel 9-12, Psalm 80
Well, the people of Israel have really stepped in it now. That have asked God for a king to fight their battles for them. The entire story since Genesis 12 has been God separating a people who will not be like the nations around them, a people who understand that they are not who they think they are. Who make a distinction between the common and the holy. A people isolated from the cause and effect of the human problem. Now this people are asked for a king in direct contrast to this- they want a king just like the nations around them, who will define who they are.
God says, “Fine, have your king.” Enter Saul, son of Kish. This is the king the people wanted. We learn quite a bit about him in this extended introduction. First of all, his appearance. He is tall and handsome. He looks like a king. Second, his social position. He comes from a family of wealth. He should know what it is like to manage property. Third, he is of the tribe of Benjamin. Uh oh. What is the last story we heard about Benjamin? Recall the end of the book of Judges. The Benjamites were nearly wiped out. They were pretty bad guys- remember the Benjamites of Gibeah were acting as bad as the people of Sodom. Yeah, Gibeah. The place we are told Saul is from. This is not such a good sign, though we know Gibeah was wiped out and repopulated, so he’s good, right? We’ll see.
Samuel is given a direct message from God that this is the guy he is to anoint at prince over Israel. Yes, prince. Not king. That is not just a variance in translation, it is a different word. Notably it is also what God says about David at his anointing, but that’s getting ahead of ourselves. It seems God is allowing the people to claim Saul as king, but God is withholding that particular moniker for the moment. Saul is led to Samuel through some lost donkeys, and Samuel anoints him as prince over Israel. Saul is give a number of signs that God is with him, and we are even told Saul is given a different heart by God. Good thing too, as we will see.
Oh, yes. Saul’s heart. We get a picture of what this man who looks like a king is really like at his coronation. Samuel gathers all the people, and Saul is pointed out through lots as the man to lead Israel. But they cannot find him. God himself has to tell them that he is hiding in the baggage. Saul would rather hide among the bags than accept the responsibility and risks of leadership.
I used to be rather sympathetic towards Saul. After all, this guy was living a pretty good life as the son of a wealthy Benjamite. The worst thing he’s asked to do is go hunt down some wandering donkeys, and while he’s doing it he gets the responsibility of leading Israel thrown at him. But the more I read the book of Samuel the less sympathy I have for Saul. He looks like a king, but he has the heart of a coward. I have seen it suggested that Saul’s refusal to acknowledge his kingship was evidence he was humble, but I don’t buy it. We will see him made terrible choices, disobey God commands through Samuel, refuse to accept God’s judgment, become bent on self preservation, take credit for the accomplishments of others, and repeat the sins of many of the worst judges. He isn’t humble, he’s cowardly, always looking to his own interests.
But that doesn’t stop God from using him, and like the worst of the judges, even he has bright moments. After he is hailed as king, everyone goes home. A short time later the Ammonites attack Israel, and God uses Saul to rescue the city of Jabesh-Gilead. Where have we heard of them before? Oh yes, during that story at the end of Judges, the people of Israel slaughter Jabesh-Gilead and take all the young women for the surviving Benjamites to marry. Jabesh-Gilead pays a terrible price for the sins of Gibeah. Now Saul, of Gibeah, is going to be used by God to deliver Jabesh-Gilead. I don’t think this is a coincidence. Saul is at least fiery. He gets mad, rallies the people, and smites the Ammonites. He is even magnanimous when it comes to the people who mocked his kingship, refusing to have them put to death. So despite his cowardly beginning by hiding among the baggage, Saul comes through as a deliverer for Israel.
Following this victory, with all the people of Israel gathered together, Samuel makes a farewell address. Note that this is a little different than the ones offered by Moses and Joshua, though it bears some similarities. First of all, Samuel makes an appeal to the people to accuse him if he has done anything unfair in his public dealings. He is about to retire from public service, and wants to make sure everything is on the up and up. He offers to repay any damage he has done to anyone. Imagine if our public servants made this kind of declaration at the end of their careers. But I digress. Following this little bit of business, Samuel’s address turns into a mirror image of the farewells of Moses and Joshua. He recounts the great things the God of Israel have done for the people, and enjoins them to obey the covenant of God. He includes the new king in this, saying that God will treat the people and the king the same under the covenant. Disobedience of king or people will bring judgment, obedience of king or people will bring blessing.
Samuel has stepped aside, as the people asked. He has given them a king, as they asked and God allowed. God has delivered them from the Ammonites through their king. He is willing to work with them and will Saul. Tomorrow we will see how this plays out and how the character of Saul is revealed to be less and less like the king he appears to be. He is rich, handsome, and tall. He is even used by God. But he is not the king, because he does not have the heart of the king, and as we know man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.