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Samuel chapter 10 reminds me of the process that happens to an
individual today when they are “born again”. The chapter begins,
“Then
Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed
him, saying, ‘has not the Lord anointed you leader over His
inheritance?’”
This anointing with oil was symbolic of the outpouring of God’s
Holy Spirit, and it was accompanied by Samuel’s instruction. I
don’t know of anyone that has received the Holy Spirit of God for
the first time who was not hearing God’s Word spoken. I believe
God works through us frail and faulty humans to communicate His truth
through the power of His written Word. Hebrews 4:12 explains, “For
the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of
both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions
of the heart“.
Samuel
prophesied about the odd events that would happen to Saul, but all
are significant. “Two
men… will say to you, the donkeys are safe… your father… is
worried about you…three men going to God at Bethel… will offer
you two loafs of bread… you will meet a procession of prophets…
The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power and you will begin
prophesying with them; and you will be changed into a different
person.”
Clearly there are multiple and varied outpourings of God’s Holy
Spirit. At the moment of conversion, we are given the bread of life.
In John 6:35, Jesus declares, “I
am the bread of Life. He who comes to me will never go hungry“.
Most importantly, the presence of God’s Spirit always leads to a
changed life because the changes that take place in our spirit are
reflected in our outward actions. Samuel continues, “Do
whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you“.
With the assurance that God is with us comes freedom from the guilt
of trying to avoid
doing the wrong thing.
And the result: “As
Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart“.
And we are assured, “and
all these things were fulfilled that day“.
It is interesting to note the reaction of others. After Saul spent
time with the prophets (declaring God’s Word), those who had
formerly known him asked, “What
is this that has happened to the son of Kish?”
Perhaps they were thinking, “Are you too good to hang out with us
now?” When you are walking in God’s Spirit people will try to
drag you back.
The
chapter ends with Saul being publicly chosen by Samuel before the
people, but “He
was nowhere to be found“.
We read, “He
had hidden himself among the baggage“.
It is easy to so caught-up in the worries of the day that we never
get around to receiving the blessings. In the Christian life, there
must come a time of announcing to the world that you have accepted
Christ. Romans 1:16 declares, “I
am not ashamed of the gospel“.
Finally Samuel did formally introduce Saul as King and Samuel also
wrote down for Saul, “the
regulations of kingship“.
It is critically important to know the responsibilities of
representing Christ, but the regulations do not make us Christians,
only the Spirit of God can do that. I pray the worries of today do
not prevent you from the blessing God has for you.