Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the LORD at Mizpah. And he said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, 'No, we want a king instead!' Now, therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by tribes and clans." (1 Samuel 10:17-19 NLT)
Israel wanted a king. Israel was warned about the problems that would result from having a king. Still, they wanted a king. So, now, God is giving them a king.
So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the LORD, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the LORD, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. (1 Samuel 10:20-21a NLT)
Casting lots seems kind of strange to us today. On the surface, it looks like gambling. It would be like watching someone line up representatives from the twelve tribes of Israel and then throwing a twelve-sided dice to select one of them. When they cast lots, it is a way of saying, “God, you take control of this dice and choose the one you want.” This removes politics and power-play from the selection process. Only God can take control of the lots that are being cast. Saul was chosen in front of everyone using lots. God had already told Samuel ahead of time what the outcome would be. Saul is king.
But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! So they asked the LORD, "Where is he?" And the LORD replied, "He is hiding among the baggage." So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else. Then Samuel said to all the people, "This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!" And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!" (1 Samuel 10:21b-24 NLT)
Saul was selected to be king, yet he was hiding from everyone. This isn’t a great sign. It raises all kinds of questions. Is he really God’s chosen king? Is he good enough to be king? Will he lead us in battle, or hide with the baggage? Saul was tall, probably handsome, and strong, though. So, he looks like the person they would want to be king. The result? They shouted, “Long live the king!”
Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent the people home again. (1 Samuel 10:25 NLT)
The true measure of a Godly leader is not how he or she starts. The true measure is faithfulness over the long-run. Is this leader faithful to God?
How about you? Do you follow leaders who are faithful to God? Are you faithful to God?
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