May 5, 2026 -King of the People

Psalms 125:1-5

John 21:1-25

1 Samuel 9:1-27

1 Samuel 10:1-27

Bible in a Year Through Song - Day 125 of 365

1 Samuel 10:1 NIV

[1] Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?

Saul who looked like a strong and mighty king (numerous references to how much bigger he was than most). He is what the people were looking for so God gave them what they were looking for. He is anointed by Samuel.

1 Samuel 10:6-7 NIV

[6] The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. [7] Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.

Samuel gives Saul instructions and tells him what is about to happen. God had given Saul the Spirit of God and all the insight and power that He provides. At this point Saul was a humble man. He questioned his right to be king being from the lowliest tribe of Benjamin the smallest tribe of Israel. His humility allowed the Spirit of God to act freely in him. That is why he could do whatever he felt he should do. God was with him and he was led by the Spirit. We are blessed as Christians to always have the Holy Spirit living in us. But how often do we hinder the work of the Spirit with our pride and personal desires. We must humble ourselves and submit to the work of the Spirit in our life and if we do then we to can "do whatever your hand finds to do".

1 Samuel 10:9 NIV

[9] As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.

Our hearts have been changed because of our faith in Christ through the power of the same Spirit that changed Saul's heart.

1 Samuel 10:17-21 NIV

[17] Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah [18] and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ [19] But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.” [20] When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. [21] Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.

Saul was anointed before he was made king. He had to go through the process. Saul was not looking to be king. In fact he was looking to avoid it. Even though he experienced all the things that Samuel said would happen. Even though the Spirit of God was in him and changed him. It was a change he had to have seen and felt and he still hid from being made king.

1 Samuel 10:22-24 NIV

[22] So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.” [23] They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. [24] Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

But you can't hide from the Lord. He is presented to the people as being "a head taller than any of the others". As I said earlier, he looked like the kind of man the people would choose for a king. This pleased the people so that when Samuel presented him as the one the Lord had chosen for them they did not hesitate to acknowledge him as king. Little did they know that the king that is after the people's heart is not what they needed.