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Posted March 21, 2010
photography by Vicki H. Moss
When Saul was anointed with oil and kissed by Samuel to be captain
over the Lord's inheritance he was also promised that three things would
happen to authenticate Samuel's authority to anoint him king and ruler of
the Israelites and to confirm God's will in the decision.
First, he would meet three men, one carrying three small goats, one carrying
three loaves of bread and another carrying a skin of wine. They would salute
him and give him two loaves of bread.
Second, he would come to the hill of God where there was a garrison of
Philistines and then when he arrived at the city, he would meet a company of
prophets with psaltery, tabret, pipe and harp and they would prophesy.
Third, the spirit of the Lord would come upon Saul and he would also
prophesy and be turned into another man. It was then he would know for sure
that God was with him. Samuel also instructed Saul to do nothing without his
guidance. It was then that "God gave him another heart" - the qualities he
needed to be king and deliverer of Israel.
Saul was given explicit instructions to obey and even though he was
given three signs, like an over zealous participant in an Olympian game, he
jumped the gun at several events. And then, instead of confessing his sin
he tried to justify himself by offering excuses for his conduct which resulted
in his disqualification in the race.
Even though Saul was a man without equal, his position of leadership -
his chance for a medal of honor - was lost. It was then God sought a man
after his own heart, someone who would keep that which the Lord commanded.
So many opportunities are eliminated due to resorting to situation ethics
instead of biblical ethics. When we resort to situation ethics, we lose the
power of the Holy Spirit and operate on our own power which is limited.
Sometimes we fall on our faces from the extra effort.
God is searching for people after his own heart. It's not always the one
who, like Saul, stands a head taller than the rest. Again, it has to do with the
heart. If the heart is in the race wholeheartedly, the flesh - though weak, will
follow. It's then we can not only face the hurdles, but sail over them.
The story of Saul begins in the 9th chapter of I Samuel.