(1 Sam. 9.)
IF the people have rejected God, He does not reject them (that is the last thing He will do). If they will not be guided by His eye, they must not be left without restraint, but be held in with bit and bridle (Psa. 32), and meanwhile behind the scenes God is at work to provide a king.
“Saul the son of Kish” little realized what was before him during his journey in search of the lost asses! So let us learn to do the thing set before us, however small it may be, if only it be in the path of obedience, for God cannot Honor us in a path of disobedience.
Saul is a man that men who judge according to appearance would choose for a leader. It is said of him that he was “a choice young man, and a goodly, and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he; from his shoulders and upwards he was higher than any of the people.” This and his modesty caused him to be the more esteemed and sought after.
To Samuel who anointed him, he with humility said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Wherefore speakest thou so to me?”
Possibly there are but few young men in existence who, after the events which had taken place, would have acted with such circumspection as Saul did at this time, though assured that on him was “all the desire of Israel.” Then when the Spirit of God came upon him he prophesied, and when his uncle inquired what the prophet had said he showed great wisdom, while there was an absence of the elation which might have been expected.
Upon the prophet Samuel calling the people together to the Lord in Mispah, that Saul might be publicly presented to them, he is nowhere to be found. But He whose eye sees all answers, “Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.” Ah! these were the days when Saul was “little in his own eyes,” as it is said later on when no longer true of him. Hover, at that time his self-effacement commends itself to the people, giving room, too, in a way for God to act as He did, for always hath He respect unto the humble.
Connected with the anointing of Saul as King of Israel, there are signs which are doubtless full of meaning. The intelligent believer will not think the mention of Rachel’s tomb, of Mispah, and of Gilgal, without significance.
The people shout “God save the king”; those who refuse to own him are termed “sons of Belial,” and Saul is blessed with the company of “a band of men whose heart the Lord hath touched.”
W. R. C.