Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  1 Samuel 10

Of all the things we are likely to hear about Saul, it is usually the depressing, negative, objectionable accounts that recur:

Wasn’t he the one that jumped the gun and made the unholy offering?

Wasn’t he the one who was oblivious to God’s departure from his life?

Wasn’t he the one who tried to kill David on countless occasions?

Wasn’t he the one who made the unholy/unlawful visit to the medium at En Dor?

Check, check, check, and check.

Now before we ourselves jump the gun and make any preachy assessments about Saul, it might be prudent to keep the critical thoughts to our selves and look at Saul’s character as though it is a likely, cautionary mirror for our own selves.

The previous chapter showed us a glimpse of the sort of man that Saul was like. Today’s chapter gives us even more insights into the character of this man who would be the first official king of Israel.

It is rather difficult to not like Saul on account of 1 Sam 10’s description of him. Here we find a man in the prime of his youth. Being taller than others, he had a physical advantage. Being humble enough to hide himself within the equipment, he showed impressive modesty. Adding to these, we see Saul as one who had the composure and dignity of any refined person to care less about the nitpicking that the select group of cynical Israelites showed about his anointing.

Lest we forget, it is clear as day that God’s grace was with Saul. In choosing him to be anointed as Israel’s king, God manifested His delight in Saul. If we need further assurance, we don’t have to look far because God’s abidance was surely present in these 2 matters. First, that God “gave him another heart” (or “changed his heart” in other versions) [verse 9] tells us that the Almighty moved within Saul and touched his heart. Second, that God permitted Saul to join in the ranks of the prophets to prophesy speaks of the magnitude of grace that was bestowed upon Saul to the extent that he was reckoned to be among the prophets. Surely and indeed, God was a merciful and gracious God! How much better could it get for anyone?

So this is the Saul that we know at the very beginning. He was a simple person, caring for the herds of his father. He was a humble young man, unwilling to divulge the big news to his uncle; and too shy to show his face at the unveiling ceremony at Mizpah. He was obedient to God’s prophet, Samuel, heeding the words that were spoken. He was faithful to God as he prophesied with the prophets.

Today’s reading brings out the essence of a bright and promising future and is always the case with all young-bloods and greenhorns. This is and ought to be the way that we Christians conduct our selves. In great humility, obedience, and faithfulness, we consider others better than our selves and see our selves as unworthy recipients of the grace of God. It’s not about shying away from the great grace but more about knowing our place before God. Ironically enough, Saul, the newly-crowned king of Israel, was a good man and gives us valuable life’s lessons. This is the Saul that we want to learn from, and we should learn quickly and wisely before things change for the worse.

In the days ahead, we will see how this bright young thing falls from grace and his plummet will likely leave us sighing in regret. For now though, thank God that the chain of events in 1 Sam 8 - 10 show us the good side of a person that is lacking in many long-time Christians.

If we examine Saul’s youth, we might find that spur to reflect upon our own present faith, and pray to God that we can return to the days of sincere faith. Surely, God loves the one who does what is found in 2 Chron 7:14.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”