Bible 203: Saul

1 Sam 10:17-27

INTRODUCTION

Re-cap

Picked up last Sunday where we left off late last fall > stories of our ancestors in the faith

      The sons of Jacob > Children of Israel > had grown weary

            Tired of being governed by the judges

            They wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations

            So they asked Samuel for a king

            Even though Samuel and God were both crushed > they agreed to find for them a king

                        Chapter 9 and first 16 verses of Chapter 10 reflect private anointing

                                    Saul was a boy at the time

                                    God told Samuel how he would know the one

                                                When Saul came looking for lost donkeys > Samuel pulled him aside

                                                Wined him and dined him > told him he would be the king

                                                Anointed him in secret > Saul did not breathe a word

                        Then last half of Chapter 10 describes rest of process

Read 1 Sam 10:17-27

      Lot > way people discerned doubtful questions long ago >

            Early version of drawing name out of hat

                        Marked pebbles and put them in some sort of vessel

                        Prayed > drew out stone > or threw them on ground or even in lap

                                    Proverbs 16:33 >     “The lot is cast into the lap;

                                                                        But the decision is wholly from the Lord.”

            Several examples of casting lots in Bible

                        Tribes of Israel chosen by lot

                        Saul chosen by lot

                        Saul’s son Jonathan identified as guilty party by lot (ate honey)

                        Apostles chose successor to Judas by lot

            Use of decision-making by lot discontinued after Pentecost > Holy Spirit guides

      Saul > means “inquired of God” > so people “sa’aled” for “saul” > another play on words

Pray > excuse me to go get bag

 

BAGGAGE IN GENERAL

I brought my baggage today

      Getting ready for a trip > putting it all together

            Middle of July going to help daughter get settled in new home in North Carolina

            So I’m taking things to my granddaughters and daughter and few things for me

      Few years ago my baggage got so heavy I had to buy this one with long handle and wheels

      Now I can take everything along with me > whether I need it or not > traveling is almost easy now

I’ll leave this here so you can see it

      Baggage “carries” important message for us in today’s story

 

BAGGAGE IN TEXT

Saul was reluctant to be chosen King

      In chapter 9 when Samuel told the boy Saul that he would be king > Saul objected

                        “I am only a Benjaminite (smallest tribe); my family is most insignificant “

      When it came time for public ‘nomination’ by lot > Saul hid himself in all the gear [stuff]

                        sense of word ’hiding’ is that it was deliberate act on Saul’s part >

                                    he was not keeping baggage safe

                                    he was not organizing it by tribe

                                    he did not want to be found

Saul was chosen by rightly by the people discerning God’s will > but he could not be found

            Now, for some drawings it doesn’t matter> need not be present to win                                                          this drawing was different > Saul was the winner

                        The people [his new subjects] would look until they found him

                        Ultimately > it was God who had to tell them where to look

Why?  What is God up to in all of this?  

      Why would God want someone so insecure?  After all, this is a KING

      Why couldn’t God take Saul’s initial “no” for an answer?

      Why in the world would God choose someone who was least likely?

      What did God see in Saul that made God think Saul could do the job?

            Granted > Saul looked the part

                        head and shoulders above everyone else > and good looking

                        is looks all that matters when it comes to being a leader?

            We’ll see in weeks to come that Saul ended up being big disappointment to everyone

But in meantime, we have this baggage to deal with

 

BAGGAGE OF OUR LIVES

Message for us in this story comes in the form of our baggage > our stuff

How much baggage do you have?

      If one suitcase represented each one of your activities > how much space?

      i.e. > When God presents you with a job to do > what is your response

           Do you say “Oh, I can’t possibly call this person; make a meal; take her somewhere >

                        I have so many other important things to do!”?

           More often than not this is my response.  How about you?

     Not necessary talking about BIG job like going to seminary or becoming missionary

            God has little jobs for us to do every day > can you and I make time for God’s jobs?

Do we have so much baggage that there is no room for God?

                                 

Or are bags few in number but too heavy to lift?

      Ultimately > baggage for Children of Israel became so heavy that it crushed them

            We put stuff in our baggage that does not belong there

                        Stuff like resentment and anger and disappointment

                        Stuff that’s too heavy for us to carry alone

      Thousand years after Saul > God sent Jesus to lighten the load

            And in 2000 years since then > Jesus has done nothing to make the load heavier!

            If our baggage is heavier, it’s because we’ve done it to ourselves

                       

Most importantly > where are your bags in relation to God?

Are you hiding behind them > or are your bags “packed and ready to go” so to speak

            Story of Messiah from “Wounded Healer”

We must keep our lives in good enough order that we’re ready when God has a job for us to do

 

CONCLUSION

Keep this in mind:     Whatever job you’re given to do,

                                    Don’t be timid > don’t make excuses

                                    Just do it.   And remember that God is with you.

Sign outside > when God takes you to it, God leads you through it