Saul Chosen King at Mizpeh - His Comparative Privacy - Incursion of Nahash - Relief of Jabesh-gilead -

Popular Assembly at Gilgal - Address of Samuel. (1 SAMUEL 10:17-12:25.)

IN answer to the people's demand, Saul had been selected as their king. The motives and views which

underlay their application for a king were manifest. They had been clearly set before the representatives of

Israel by Samuel; and they had not gainsaid the correctness of his statement. They wanted not only a king,

but royalty like that of the nations around, and for the purpose of outward deliverance; thus forgetting

God's dealings in the past, disclaiming simple trust in Him, and disbelieving the sufficiency of His

leadership. In fact, what they really wanted was a king who would reflect and embody their idea of royalty,

not the ideal which God had set before them. And no better representative of Israel could have been found

than Saul, alike in appearance and in military qualification; nor yet a truer reflex of the people than that which

his character and religious bearing offered. He was the typical Israelite of his period, and this neither as

regarded the evil-disposed or "sons of Belial," nor yet, of course, the minority of the truly enlightened, but

the great body of the well-disposed people. If David was the king "after God's own heart," Saul was the king

after the people's own heart. What they had asked, they obtained; and what they obtained, must fail; and

what failed would prepare for what God had intended.

But as yet the choice of Saul had been a secret between the messenger of the Lord and the new king. As in

every other case, so in this,102 God would g ive the person called to most difficult work every opportunity of

knowing His will, and every encouragement to do it. For this purpose Samuel had first called up great

thoughts in Saul; then "communed" with him long and earnestly; then given him undoubted evidence that

the message he bore was God's; and, finally, embodied in one significant direction alike a warning of his

danger and guidance for his safety. All this had passed secretly between the two, that, undisturbed by

influences from without, Saul mig ht consider his calling and future course, and this in circumstances most

favorable to a happy issue, while the transaction was still, as it were, between God and himself, and before

he could be led astray by the intoxicating effect of success or by popular flattery.

And now this brief period of preparation was past, and what had been done in secret must be confirmed in

assembly "before Jehovah" in Mizpeh. He re the first great victory over the Philistines had been obtained by

prayer (7:5), and here there was an "altar unto Jehovah" (ver. 9). As so often before, the lot was solemnly

cast to indicate the will of God. But before so doing, Samuel once more presented to the people what the

leadership of the Lord had been in the past, and what their choice of another leadership implied. This not

with the view of annulling the proposed establishment of royalty, but with that of leading the people to

repentance of their sin in connection with it. But the people remained unmoved. And now the lot was drawn.

It fell on Saul, the son of Kish. But although he had come to Mizpeh, he could not be found in the assembly.

It was a supreme moment in the history of Israel when God had indicated to His people, gathered before

Him, their king by name. In circumstances so urgent, inquiry by the Urim and Thummim seemed appropriate.

The answer indicated that Saul had concealed himself among the baggage on the outskirts of the

encampment. Even this seems characteristic of Saul. It could have been neither from humility nor modesty  105

- both of which would, to say the least, have been here misplaced. It is indeed true that this was a moment in

which the heart of the bravest might fail,106 and that thoughts of what was before him might well fill him with

Saul must have known what would be expected of him as king. Would he succeed in it? He knew the tribal

and personal jealousies which his election would call forth. Would he be strong enough to stand against

them? Such questions were natural. The only true answer would have been a spiritual one. Unable to give it,

Saul withdrew from the assembly. Did he wonder whether after all it would come to pass or what would