Saul Presented To The People

I Samuel 10:17-27

“And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; 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: 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.” (I Samuel 10:17-19)

During the week after anointing Saul to be king, Samuel contacted all Israel, telling them to come to Mizpeh where God would reveal who their king should be.  He reminded them of what God had done for them in the past, and warned that in selecting a king they were rebelling against God.  As Samuel told Saul in I Samuel 15:23, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…”  God would allow them to have their king, but as Proverbs 105:15 states, “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”  It wasn’t pleasing to God.  Each tribe was to come before the Lord and God would show which was to be king.

“And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.  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.  Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither.” (I Samuel 10:20-22)

Proceeding in an orderly fashion, it was quickly determined that the King was to come from the tribe of Benjamin.  Next, God indicated that he was to be of Matri’s family, and finally Saul was identified, but they couldn’t find him.  They prayed, asking God whether he would be coming or not so they could take appropriate action.

“And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 

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.” (I Samuel 10:22b-23)

Probably afraid of the responsibility and a little shy, Saul had hidden among all the things the people had brought.  When they brought him out, he towered over everyone else by almost a foot.

“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. 

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.” (I Samuel 10:24-25)

Samuel pointed out that Saul was unlike anyone else, being taller, and the people, desiring a hero to protect them, rejoiced to have such a big man.  Samuel then wrote down the things God had told him about what the kingdom would be like and stored it in the temple.  Finally he sent the people home.

“And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 

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.” (I Samuel 10:26-27)

Saul went home like everyone else, although he was accompanied by a group of men whose hearts had been touched by God to build the kingdom.  Though God had clearly indicated that he had chosen Saul to be their king, a group who followed Satan rebelled against the idea of him being king and were quite insulting.  Such people will always stand against what God wants, so when we get a 100% vote it is a near certainty that Satan thinks he can use the selection to his advantage.  Saul did not make an issue of their slights.