…representing The One True King.

Saul became king and quickly learned to fight the right enemy as he loved God and served people.  He rallied the troops, fought the Ammonite attackers, and won the battle.  Everyone was praising God for the victory.

Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, "Now where are those men who said, 'Why should Saul rule over us?' Bring them here, and we will kill them!" (1 Samuel 11:12 NLT)

They were praising God, but not loving people.  They wanted Saul to act like all the other kings – eliminating his detractors.  Saul, however, chose God’s way instead.

But Saul replied, "No one will be executed today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel!" (1 Samuel 11:13 NLT)

A perfect king follows the real King.  A perfect king gives glory to the real King.  A perfect king represents The One True King.  Saul, this day, was being the perfect king.

Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom." So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the LORD they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy. (1 Samuel 11:14-15 NLT)

How about you?  Do you follow the real King?  Do you give glory to the real King?  Do you represent The One True King?

… a servant-warrior.

Saul became king.  God selected him privately with Samuel and anointed him with oil in a private ceremony.  Saul was king.  God selected him publicly through casting lots and praised him publicly through all the Israelites.  Saul is king.  They all shouted with joy, but not everyone was excited.
When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. But there were some scoundrels who complained, "How can this man save us?" And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them… (1 Samuel 10:26-27a NLT)
Every position of leadership comes with its challenges.  People will agree and people will disagree with the leader.  This is where humility (discussed earlier) comes into play for the leaders.  Humility is being honest about and faithful to our part of God’s plan.  Humility knocks us down when we are prideful.  Humility builds us up when others tear us down.
About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. "Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants," they pleaded. "All right," Nahash said, "but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!" (1 Samuel 11:1-2 NLT)
Beyond the people God calls a leader to serve, others set themselves up as enemies of God.  These enemies will destroy people in order to mock God.  These are the true enemies of the King.
Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, "What's the matter? Why is everyone crying?" So they told him about the message from Jabesh. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. (1 Samuel 11:5-6 NLT)
Saul knew how to make the distinction between the people he served and the true enemies of The King.  When he saw the second, he rallied the troops – literally.  Saul pulled together the warriors of Israel to save the Israelites from the Ammonite attackers.
So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, "We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!" There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived! The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish." But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together. (1 Samuel 11:9-11 NLT)
Today, we do not fight human enemies.  God calls us to go and make disciples of human beings (Matthew 28:19-20).  Human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6; James 3:9-10).  People are not our enemy.  The enemy is our enemy (1 Peter 5:8).  We fight the enemy (James 4:7-8) and love God (Matthew 22:37).  We fight the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-20) and love people (Matthew 22:39).  In doing this, we become a servant-warrior like Saul.  We serve God and people by fighting our true enemies.
How about you?  Do you see people as human beings made in God’s image?  Do you see our true enemy as the enemy?  Do you fight the enemy and love God?  Do you fight the enemy and love people?  Are you a servant-warrior?

…faithful to God.

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?

…humble before God.

Saul went looking for donkeys for his dad.  On the journey he encountered Samuel (God’s prophet), was treated like royalty, was anointed as king of Israel, and then empowered with God’s Holy Spirit.  Not a bad day!
When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, "What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?" And one of those standing there said, "Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?" So that is the origin of the saying "Is even Saul a prophet?" (1 Samuel 10:10-12 NLT)
Before he gets too excited about his newly received power, Saul gets knocked down a notch or two.  “Really? Saul’s a prophet?  Wow, I guess God is desperate.”  That’s the tone in his friends’ words.  With friends like that…
Saul gets recruited, empowered, and knocked down all in the same day.  The combination of these actions keep him humble before God. Humility is not just about lowering oneself.  It’s about lifting up, too. 
When we are humble, we are not proud.  Pride is the one extreme.  Pride tells us that we are more than we actually are.  Pride leads us to believe that it is all about us.  Pride comes before a fall.
When we are humble, we do not beat ourselves up.  When we beat ourselves up, we are beating up a human being made in the very image of God.  Godly guilt will lead us to turn around in repentance, changing our behavior.  Ungodly guilt will just beat us up and leave us to die on the side of the road.
Humility is being honest and accurate with ourselves about our part of God’s Plan.  It is not seeing ourselves as more than our part.  It is not seeing ourselves as less that our part.  Humility is the “happy middle.”  It is the place of peace with God, regardless of the response of the people around us.
"Where have you been?" Saul's uncle asked him and his servant. "We were looking for the donkeys," Saul replied, "but we couldn't find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were." "Oh? And what did he say?" his uncle asked. "He told us that the donkeys had already been found," Saul replied. But Saul didn't tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom. (1 Samuel 10:14-16 NLT)
How about you?  Do you tend to puff yourself up to the point of dangerous pride?  Do you knock yourself down to the point that you are insulting the God who designed you, created you, and still holds you together?  Are you humble before God?

…empowered by God

Saul is chosen by God to be the king of Israel.  He had left his home that day looking for lost donkeys.  This is not what he expected out of his day.  In looking for the donkeys, he sought out Samuel the seer (prophet).  Maybe a prophet of God could “see” where the donkeys were.
Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, "Can you please tell me where the seer's house is?" "I am the seer!" Samuel replied. "Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I'll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. And don't worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel's hopes." (1 Samuel 9:18-20 NLT)
“What a relief.  The donkeys were found!  I guess it wouldn’t hurt to stay overnight and get a good meal in before going back home.  Our family is the focus of Israel’s hopes?  What’s that all about?”  These are all thought Saul might have had after meeting Samuel.  The next morning, Saul may have had a bunch more thoughts.
Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. He kissed Saul and said, "I am doing this because the LORD has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession. (1 Samuel 10:1 NLT)
“What?  I’m appointed as ruler of Israel?  I’m the king?  I was just looking for my father’s donkeys and now I’m king?”  What kind of thoughts go through our minds when God calls us to our part of His Plan?  Do we struggle?  Do we push back?  Do we doubt? 
God made it clear to Saul that he would be king.  First of all, he gave the message to Saul through a known and trusted prophet of God.  Secondly, he gave Saul all kinds of signs (short term predictions) through Samuel so that Saul would know it was God’s choice.  Finally, Saul was empowered with the Holy Spirit of God.
At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. (1 Samuel 10:6-7 NLT)
This final sign, the Holy Spirit, was not available to everyone back then like today.  Many years after the days of Saul, the prophet Joel would predict a day that the Holy Spirit would be made available to all people.
"Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on servants--men and women alike. (Joel 2:28-29 NLT)
That day came many years after Joel.  The day was Pentecost.  The years was the same that Jesus died, arose, and ascended into heaven.  He sent His Spirt, just as promised, and the Apostles began speaking in languages they had not learned.  They shared the good news that day, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  When they finished preaching, people asked what they must do to be saved from the coming wrath of God.
Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles--all who have been called by the Lord our God." (Acts 2:38-39 NLT)
How about you?  Have you repented and been immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins, receiving the Holy Spirit of God? Have you come home to the Father through the Son and received the Holy Spirit?  Are you, like Saul, empowered?

…chosen by God.

Israel is about to get its first king.  They had asked for it.  It’s fair for us to ask, then, what kind of king?  What does a Godly king look like?  What is a “perfect” king?
Now the LORD had told Samuel the previous day, "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of My people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on My people in mercy and have heard their cry." (1 Samuel 9:15-16 NLT)
Remember who the leader was at this time.  God was King.  Samuel was God’s prophet - a spokesman who told people whatever message the LORD had for them.  Samuel also served as judge, bringing the wisdom of God to the court system so the scales of justice would be balanced out.  God was King.  Samuel was the visible representative for God.  It makes sense, then, that the new visible leader would be chosen by God.  The LORD chose the king.
When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said, "That's the man I told you about! He will rule My people." (1 Samuel 9:17 NLT)
The same is true of godly leaders today.  They don’t necessarily ask for the position of leadership.  They receive it.  When God calls us to do a ministry, lead a team, or shepherd a group of people, the direction of the calling becomes clear.  The call is from God.  We need to follow the leading from God.  Leaders are chosen by God.
How about you?  Have you seen people who try to be leaders regardless of their relationship with God?  Have you seen leaders who are called by God?  Can you tell the difference?  Are you called by God?

The Perfect King

Israel wanted a King.  Israel asked for a King.  God is giving Israel a King.
There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel--head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. (1 Samuel 9:1-2 NLT)
How, then, will the LORD choose a king to lead God’s chosen people?  What will he look like?  What will be his pedigree?  How about his education?  What qualities will God look at when selecting the perfect king for His special possession, Israel?
One day Kish's donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, "Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys." So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn't find the donkeys anywhere. Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, "Let's go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!" (1 Samuel 9:3-5 NLT)
This week, we will explore the qualities that seem to be important to God in selecting the perfect king.  This will give us insight into the LORD’s perspective on leadership in general.  Leaders are men and women of God who match God’s description of a leader.
But the servant said, "I've just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let's go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go." "But we don't have anything to offer him," Saul replied. "Even our food is gone, and we don't have a thing to give him." "Well," the servant said, "I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!" (In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, "Let's go and ask the seer," for prophets used to be called seers.) "All right," Saul agreed, "let's try it!" So they started into the town where the man of God lived. (1 Samuel 9:6-10 NLT)
So, while Saul and his servant look for a man of God, we will be looking for leaders of God as well.
How about you?  Would you recognize a man or woman who matches God’s description of a leader?  Do you know what qualities make a “perfect” king?