Preoccupied
1 Samuel 10:17–27

Paul J. Bucknell

3. God’s Selection (1 Sam 10:20-27)

20 Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” So the Lord said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.” 23 So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!” (1 Samuel 10:20-24).

Getting What We Want

Samuel followed through with their decision—“Thus Samuel…”. God told Samuel to give them what they wanted. “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you'” (1 Sam 8:7).

Do you really want to get what you wish? What did the Israelites truly want? Clarifying our thoughts and desires helps us recognize our wickedness more clearly. Once again, they rejected God's choice of an earthly king. They rebelled against their mighty and gracious God.

When God granted them their king, they deluded themselves with their success, totally unaware of the consequences of rejecting God as their King. Yes, they would be like other nations, but did they understand how that would weaken them?

They wanted someone to protect their nation. Happy with God’s choice, they said, “Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” The people shouted, “Long live the king!” (10:24). The rest of 1 Samuel records Samuel’s spiritual struggles and the harmful impact this decision had on the kingdom, even on others like David.

God knew what they wanted and gave it to them. He didn’t trick them but used their request to reveal their foolishness. Earlier, he did this when the Israelites complained about a lack of meat and grumbled to God. He gave them meat, “until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you” (Num 11:18-20).

He gave them what they thought would heal their independent spirit, even though He knew it wasn’t the best. When we reject God’s best, we end up with second-rate options.

The choices we make are not always the best, even if they seem good. How many once-successful government, business, and church leaders have become sore points for their groups?

Here are two observations:

As parents, pastors, mentors, and friends, it’s heartbreaking to see those we care about make poor choices. Pray for them.

Some of us face a tough life because of poor choices. Don’t fear that it’s too late. Behind this is a God of love who seeks His people’s hearts. Turn back to Him and ask where to go from here. He’ll happily guide you.

A Kind Headstart (1 Sam 10:25-27)

25 Then Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book and placed it before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house. 26 Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But certain worthless men said, “How can this one deliver us?” And they despised him and did not bring him any present. But he kept silent” (1 Samuel 10:25-27).

What surprises me is how the Lord chose a tall, well-equipped, strong man, Saul, to be their new king. (Wouldn’t you choose a weak, poorly equipped king to teach them a lesson?) The previous sections remind us that, despite their foolish decision to get a king like the world, God was gracious enough to give them a good king, at least on the outside. He told Samuel to anoint and appoint him. The Lord did it publicly, too, to reduce tribal rivalry. Later, Samuel would install Saul as king after his victory, when the people’s spirits were high. God wished they had chosen Him, but in His patience, He granted them a handsome, tall, strong warrior—someone Samuel respected. God made the green lights shine brightly for this new dynasty.

The Israelites had a powerful-looking king-general from a prominent family, but unfortunately, he did not seek God first. This is likely why we are told to pray for our leaders (1 Tim 2:1-2). It’s a tough role for them. Their character flaws can lead to compromise and corruption.

Samuel began well by giving them their king along with the ordinances, which clarified the rules they were to follow. These were written in a book to remind them and were placed before the Lord.

Some suggest it is not the same as Deuteronomy 17:15-17, where God provides a specific description because they already had that. I’m not sure that is true. However, it seemed like everyone was in agreement. Perhaps, later on, people would look back and use it to clarify what could or could not be done. The king is powerful but does not have the final say; the prophet still held his position. The book is probably a blend of both, safely placed in the Lord’s presence.

Gibeah’s history records some fearless and courageous warriors (Judges 20). The tribe was wiped out due to a purge of their wickedness. Kish’s family, possibly Saul’s grandfather, must have been among the 600 men who held out by the rock of Rimmon, helping rebuild the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 20:47). “Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamin, a mighty man of valor” (1 Sam 9:1).

Division Avoided

Admittedly, selecting new government and military leaders for the first time is a difficult task. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. Some unknown leaders had trouble with this. Maybe there was tribal rivalry, but I don’t think so because they were described as “worthless” men, people from whom one might expect trouble. We still have such men today!

Saul passed two tests that day. First, he followed Samuel’s instructions during the meeting. Second, perhaps more difficult, “he kept silent” (1 Sam 10:27)! When someone has just gained power, it’s tempting to use it to bring everyone together. He refused to do this. This didn’t resolve the conflict, but it is notable, suggesting he might be a good king.

Application

Our perception of what we need is often shortsighted, blurred by selfish desires. This is Israel’s problem here! When searching for pastors, many initially focus on gifts and degrees. Paul explicitly instructs us to prioritize godly character when choosing leaders, as seen in two places, and explains how it impacts their relationships (1 Tim 3; Titus 1). Character flaws create significant gaps in ministry. This issue will guide us through the remaining chapters of 1 Samuel.

Summary

Our life decisions form the foundation of our spiritual lives. It’s easy to make worldly choices, following the influence of those around us. But these will lead to a dull spiritual life, filled with struggles. It’s much better to trust God with His ways, even if they seem confusing or nonsensical. He tests your trust in Him this way, aiming to strengthen your faith so He can bless and use you more effectively in this world.

Spiritual Life Points

Respond to God’s pursuit of you.

Be convinced of His better ways. (faith)

God works with us where we are at. Seek Him!

Don’t be preoccupied with your plans. Be careful what you seek.

Repent from any bad decisions.

Work closely with Him no matter where you are.