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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) Song of Adoration: Hymnal #22C “Amid the Thronging Worshipers” *Song of Preparation: Hymnal #116A: 1-4 “I Love the Lord, for He Has Heard My Voice” Scripture: Mark 7:31-37; I Samuel 10:17-27 Text: I Samuel 10:17-27 Message: Saul Proclaimed as King *Song of Preparation: Hymnal #353 “Lamb, Precious Lamb” *Song of Response: Hymnal #196 “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” *Doxology: Hymnal #473: 3 “By the Sea of Crystal |
Scripture Reading: Mark 7:31-37 and I Samuel 10:17-27
Beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,
There are certain things that can bring a community together. When a tragedy hits a congregation, there is a type of drawing near to each other. Even nationally this takes place. During WWII, everyone joined the war effort. They collected metals, rationed food, bought war bonds, and hung American flags. There was a uniting cause and a common enemy. When the terrorists attacks happened on 9/11, the US was attacked. It seemed like every American was attacked. People’s attitudes changes, at least for awhile. Churches were full, people were kinder, and the country wasn't divided. It didn’t matter what your political affiliation, your race, or your religion…people were, at that moment American together.
We see something take place in our text this morning. The people are going to gather together around a common cause. The Israelites had asked for a king like the nations around them, a king that will defend them in battle and give them national security. This is what God, seemingly reluctantly, is going to give them. Our theme is Our Lord establishes a monarchy in Israel.
I. Samuel Gathered the People
II. Saul Chosen as King
III. The Law Established
I. Sameul Gathered the People (v. 17-19)
In our text, Samuel is still acting as God’s prophet. He calls the people together at Mizpah. This wasn’t a random meeting. Verse 17 says that he called the people together to the LORD. They aren’t going to gather to hear a political speech or rally, they are gathering to hear the words of God. Since this is a word from God, the people had better listen humbly and heed what is about to be said. As a prophet, Samuel begins his speech with “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel.” This gives it divine weight.
The message given in verses 18-19 is not a positive one. The occasion should have been celebratory in a sense, after all, they are going to coronate a king. If you have ever watched a coronation on television, it is no small thing. It is full of pomp and circumstance, it is expensive. When King Charles was coronated, they placed the crown upon his head. Ordinarily, that crown is part of the Royal Jewels locked in the Tower of London. You can go there and see it. But that crown which is normally under bullet proof glass was taken out for the special occasion. The Royal carriage would have been dusted off. But, our text sounds very different than that. The speech Samuel gives is a pretty somber one.
This week Kamala Harris, as the president of the Senate certified her loss and Donald Trumps victory. She had to stand there, in the midst of applause from the opposing party and read off the electoral votes each candidate won. She had something of a smirk on her face with a recognition that she was doing her duty in that particular office of vice president. It couldn’t have been a very happy moment for her.
Samuel, as God’s mouthpiece really brings an indictment. Verse 18 reiterates God’s deliverance of his people from Egypt and from all their enemies. After all, what did they have that was not given to them? In verse 19 the tone changes. Read vs. 19. What Samuel is saying, as God’s mouthpiece, is that they have rejected Yahweh as their king. When the people have said, “Set a king over us”, they were essentially deposing God as their king. They have impeached their ruler. But, God is going to acquiesce to their request as we saw back in chapters 8-9.
II. Saul Chosen as King (v. 20-24)
Samuel gathered all the people together by their tribes. Remember, there are 12 tribes. The kingdom is not yet divided. The tribe of Benjamin is the smallest and was almost wiped out in a civil war back in Judges. (more of that history in chapter 11). As Samuel lined up the tribes, they would choose the king by lot. This was a God pleasing way to seek the Lord’s will. It also connected the indictment just heard to the lot cast for a king. It also made clear that God was choosing. This isn’t leaving things to chance, but it is still guided by God’s direction. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” So what would have likely happened was that every tribe would write their name on a stone and one would be chosen. Then once a tribe is chosen, then the clans of Benjamin would do they same thing and they ended up in the clan of the Matrites. They continue on until they ended up landing on Saul the son of Kish.
Seems easy enough, they got their man. But, when it was time for Saul to come forward to be recognized as king, he was nowhere to be found. He was hiding. The people even asked Samuel again that maybe another man could be chosen. At this point God intervened and revealed where Saul was. He was hiding with the baggage. Since all of Israel came to Mizpah, they would have journeyed and brought their baggage. That is where Saul was hiding. So they fetch him from the baggage.
As he came forward, something was clear about Saul. He was an impressive physical specimen. He was a head taller than the rest of the people. Notice that the description of Saul is always about his physical appearance or size and not about his character or heart. He looked the part of a king.
There is an obvious question at this point. Why did Saul hide among the baggage? After all, he knew what was coming. Smauel had anointed him secretly in 10:1 and then confirmed it with three signs. There really are two main theories as to why Saul hid. First, Saul might have been showing humility. He didn’t want all the praise that would be afforded to a man chosen as king. Many of God’s faithful servants, like Athanasius or even John Calvin tried to step back from center stage. Saul might have recognized his shortcomings and maybe another one could be chosen. A second option, which I think is correct is that he was afraid. Fear in this situation would have been self-serving.
Nevertheless, Saul is presented before the people. Read vs. 24. Samuel points out his physique and the people respond in the still chanted cry, “Long live the king”! It isn’t a coincidence that Saul is pointed out regarding his height. He is a king like the nations around them. None of the nations would have had scrawny kings who were afraid to go out to war. They desired a warrior king who could intimidate the enemy. David will be contrasted with Saul in time. In I Samuel 16:7 God says to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
Nevertheless, the people unite together. This was important. As the monarchy is established, it is important for the people to unite together under a common king. This was a day where things were more tribal that we would imagine, so unity as a nation would be important in the coming years.
III. The Law Established (v. 25-27)
These final three verses of our text might seem like they can be easily skipped over. But something very important is taking place. Something called the rights and duties of kingship is being laid down. These laws are being written down as a public record. Certainly some of what was written down would have been drawn from God’s laws in Deuteronomy 17 regarding kingship.
It is important to see that monarchs are to operate under the law of God. Monarchs ought not to have unlimited powers and rights. As is seen throughout history, not only does absolute power corrupt absolutely, but even the king is to reign under the authority of God himself as the true King. The question decided by the US Supreme Court earlier this year regarding presidential immunity for official acts as president doesn’t undermine this. Any ruler is still to rule according to God’s will. Though we are not national Israel, the US is still under God’s lordship and rule. Though we can be thankful for the freedoms we have enshrined in our constitution, we must not think for a moment that are “God’s nation” or even a “Christian nation”….whatever that might mean. No nations can be slaughtering thousands of its citizens in the womb and then seek the blessing of God. You can be proud to be an American, but there are many things we should not be proud of as a nation. We ought to still hold our elected officials to God’s standard. They are not above God’s law. These rights and duties of kingship were not what Samuel said earlier, when he told the people the king would take the best that they had. No, this was the king’s responsibility.
(Christians and the Law)
As we think about Saul in our text, we should remember that even though there are some similarities he has with Jesus, Saul really is most easily contrasted with Jesus.
What they have in common is that they both hid. When Saul’s name was called, he was hiding among the baggage. When Jesus performed many miracles, including the one in our scripture reading, he charged them not to tell anyone. Why? Because Jesus had his own purposes. He didn’t come mainly to heal people from physical maladies….he came to save people from their sins. His healing ministry had the danger of getting in the way of his atonement. The miracles Jesus performed testified to the fact of who he was, the God-Man, the Messiah of God, but it was the cross that was to remain in sight. Jesus didn’t conceal his identity because of fear, but rather because of a greater redemptive purpose.
Notice another comparison. Samuel said of Saul that there was no one like him in verse 24. But Samuel was referring to Saul’s physical appearance. It was true that there was no one like Jesus, not because of what he looked like, but because of what he was doing. John couldn’t have said of anyone else, “behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world.” No one had the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, because no one else was truly a man of perfect righteousness and integrity. No one could fulfill Psalm like Psalm 15 or 24….no one could ascend the hill of the Lord like the Lord Jesus Christ could.
A third point is to see that Sauls proclamation in our text is a statement of God’s judgment. The context unites this all together here. On that day, verse 19 says that they have rejected their God and also on that very same day they have received a king. He is really the result of their sin. But Jesus will be the solution to sin. Read Romans 3:25. This is God’s gift in Jesus Christ. Seek him. Don’t seek the kings of this world, seek the king of the universe.
Fourth, notice that both Saul and Jesus were rejected by some. We see that after Saul is proclaimed king, he is sent home with some men of valor. Mighty men who would protect Saul, like the secret service protecting the president. But read verse 27. There were worthless men who rejected God’s authority figure. John 1 says that Jesus came to his own but his own people did not receive him (vs. 11). He continued to be rejected by some. Even as he hung on the cross, he was mocked and ridiculed.
As the crowd cried out, “Long live the king” it might hearken to the cry of Hosanna on Psalm Sunday. Many were pleased with Saul’s appointment as king, but there is no comparison between that and what is received in the Lord Jesus Christ. Go back to John 1:12, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” This is what we remember at the table of the Lord this morning.
Israel had rejected God as king in favor of a king like the nations around them. Believe in Jesus Christ who is the Lord of the nations around us, the one who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Humble yourself before God appointed authority, but bow yourself before King Jesus. Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Steven Swets, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2025, Rev. Steven Swets
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