Samuel walked across the courtyard to rest under a Tamarisk tree. He stopped when he heard God’s voice.
“About this time tomorrow Israel’s first king will come to you. He’s from Benjamin. Anoint him so he will save My people from the Philistines. This is what My people want.”
The next day Samuel sat in the gate of the city watching folks coming and going. The tall man sauntering up the hill caught his attention. God’s voice was clear.
“This is the man I told you about. Anoint him as king before you send him away.”
Saul approached. He bent down to speak to Samuel. “Can you tell me where the seer’s house is? I must inquire of him.”
Samuel smiled. “I’m the seer. Wait for me in the high place. You shall eat with me today. Tomorrow I will send you home. Don’t worry about your father’s donkeys. They found their way back. I am privileged to meet with you today.”
Saul stood up. “Why? I’m from the little tribe of Benjamin. My family history isn’t impressive.”.
********
A few years later Samuel again heard God’s voice. “I regret making Saul the king. He has failed to carry out my commands.”
Samuel fell to his knees. “I warned the people about such things happening. They wouldn’t listen to me at all. How can we keep from losing Your favor, Lord? What must we do to correct this iniquity?”
The questions and beseeching continued through the night with no response from God.
In the morning Samuel set out to confront Saul.
********
A while later God again spoke to Samuel. “How long will you grieve over Saul’s failures? Fill your horn with oil and travel to Bethlehem. I have selected a son of Jesse to rule My people.”
Samuel looked up. “But, how shall I go without Saul finding out? If he knows what I’m there for he’ll kill me.”
“Take a heifer to sacrifice. Invite everyone to come, especially Jesse. I’ll tell you which son I choose.”
********
Samuel led the heifer to Bethlehem. When he came to the gate the elders approached him. “Do you come peaceably?”
Samuel nodded. “Yes. I have come to sacrifice here.”
“Very well. We are pleased you have come.”
Samuel scanned the group. “Which of you is Jesse?”
A man stepped forward. “I am Jesse.”
“Bring your sons to the feast. I must see your sons.”
As the crowd gathered Jesse brought his sons to the prophet.
Samuel smiled as the eldest son came to him. His thoughts took over. This one will be a good king. I can see the leadership oozing out of him
God’s voice broke through. “No. Don’t look at his outside appearance. I know his heart. He isn’t the one for this role. I will tell you which one has the best heart.”
After the seventh son walked past Samuel scanned the crowd behind him. He looked at Jesse. “Is this all of your sons? God has not spoken to me about either of them.”
Jesse pointed to a distant hillside. “There’s still David. He’s watching the flock over there.”
Samuel folded his arms. “Bring him here. We will not sit until he comes.”
Jesse grabbed the arm of one of the servants. “Go. Send David here at once.”
Everyone watched the servant run across the valley. He talked to David. David came running to them. The sheep tried to keep up with him. The servant threw his arms in the air.
When David came into town the crowd separated in front of him. He fell to his knees to catch his breath. “What do you need me for?”
The sight of a gray-haired man dressed in linen appeared after the brothers stepped back.
Samuel smiled when he heard God’s voice. “Anoint him. He is My choice.”
Samuel removed the stop from the horn in his hand.
David was still breathing hard as the oil saturated his scalp and fine beard. He cupped his hands together to catch the liquid. It flowed over his fingers onto the ground.
************
The selection of a king is a mighty undertaking. Especially when you’re responsible for finding the best man for the job to lead God’s people.
I’m pretty sure Samuel felt like a failure when Saul committed one blunder after another once he gained the throne.
He shouldn’t have. I say that because he was simply following God’s leading in choosing Saul as Israel’s first king.
Samuel had a unique line of communication open to God that nobody else had at that time.
We now have that available to us as believers in Jesus Christ. It’s called prayer.
Samuel’s prayer life was different from ours because God dealt with people differently then.
In the history of mankind God had never chosen a race of people to be His chosen nation.
God chose to speak to Samuel to carry out His plans.
Today God works through people of every nation because of the all-encompassing work accomplished by Jesus on the cross and beyond the grave.
God recorded the methods He used in the past to help us shape the future.
By seeing the big picture of each life lived out in the Bible we know how each person succeeded and failed.
Now that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer God can guide us in the decisions we make.
Our relationship with God is developed by reading the Bible to learn more about God. Our prayers open our hearts to talk to God about our hurts, pains and problems. As our dependence grows so will our influence and impact.
Your eternity with God doesn’t begin when you reach heaven after you die.
God wants to build you into a better person who loves and lives like His Son, Jesus.
Saul’s failures would continue. They would help shape David into Israel’s mightiest king.
Your failures will continue, too.
Will you let them defeat you?
Or will you let them build you into a person God can use?
I’ll see you later. Wade
